Michael was born in Yorkshire and his parents were Alfred and Rhoda. Alfred was a leading seaman in the Royal Navy during the Second World War sailing with the Atlantic and Russian convoys.
The family moved to Stafford and Michael attended a local secondary school becoming house captain and excelling at sports. He later became one of the youngest football referees in Staffordshire.
He joined the County Treasurer’s Office and then in 1969 he moved to the Stafford Corporation. At the age of 22 he became part time Parish Clerk to Berkswich Parish Council and then became Deputy Clerk to Swanley Parish Council.
Michael married Mollie in 1984 and at the age of 37 applied for and was appointed Town Clerk of Wokingham Town Council, becoming the youngest in that position. He became chairman of the Town Centre Management Committee and Secretary for the Berkshire Association of Local Council Clerks.
Because of ill health, Michael was forced to retire at the end of 1999 having served for 15 years having seen the acquisition of Howard Palmer Park and Joel Park, erection of bus shelters, children’s fun days, Christmas lighting, Civic Awards, Heritage Day at the town hall, the information centre, Sunny Saturdays in the town centre, twinning with Viry Chatillon, administration of Viking Field and Woosehill Community Hall and the formation of a Youth Council.
Wokingham Town Museum Unique Identifier: WTH0494