I guess I first went over to Mike and Bernadette’s home when I was about 4/5/6 years old, about 45 years ago or something like that, to play with Claire and Emma, my recollection is of a strong man, a cheeky charming affable fella, a proud chap, (I hope he’d forgive me sometimes a boastful guy, but he had a fair bit to boast about, a successful businessman with some great properties and interests, but most of all a marvellous wife and children and grandchildren) (I still remember him taking me on the back of his blood-red Ducati when I a teenager)intelligent, interested and interesting, out of all those things and there was a lot to Mike Bailey, I’d say charming and characterful is how I’d describe Mike, he’d have a twinkle in his eye like he had ‘the secret’, he had a great unexpected gleeful laugh, coz he’d invariably said something slightly naughty, I know he’d suffered greatly over the last decade, Parkinson’s disease can be merciless, so there is a mercy to knowing he’s at peace, Mike Bailey’s was a life well lived, from what I can gather, I have a tear in my eye because I liked and respected him, and also thinking of my friends Bernadette, Emma and Claire, my heartfelt condolences, also on behalf of Sandra, Norman and Stefan, always there with an ear and a shoulder your friend Stu Xxx

Your legacy will live on in those who loved you. Rest in peace Michael.

An amazing friend of 53 years to my late husband Mike and myself. Our lives were blessed by knowing him, enriched both with fun and laughter, chaos and care, never knowing what would happen next but always there as a steadfast friend.