Mick Swain (25 Jan 1946 - 19 Dec 2023)

I miss you so much, love you uncle mick xx

Dearest Mick, Pat, Michelle & Ryan
I was looking to take this opportunity to share my thoughts and the wonderful, memorable experiences I had the pleasure of sharing with Uncle Mick.
As an uncle, he was everything and more than anyone could want; he had such a generous nature, and our worlds will feel his absence. I always looked up to Mick and couldn’t fault him in any way. I was secretly jealous of all the qualities he offered as a father that I couldn’t share with mine and seeing him smitten over Michelle and Ryan. Also, he was the coolest uncle in the world as my auntie & uncle leased pubs for years and let me play the arcade games for free, I have fond memories.

He never failed to bring a glow to any room with his boisterous and infectious nature; I can’t think back to a time when we were not having a giggle in some way, and he was always winding my mum (Gina) up with his raw humour.
It’s rare to know someone who didn’t get angry (maybe frustrated sometimes with Pat’s edge on winning arguments) and will never forget how he would always want to do anything for you “Cup of tea Mike”, if it was possible to overdose from cups of tea you know that would be a risk at Pat & Mick’s x

When I was very young, one of the rare occasions Mick lost his composure and will never forget was when we were at Butlins on a family trip with my parents and Pat & and Mick. Michelle was holding her breath as I recall, she didn’t get her way & and turned blue, and Mick didn’t know what to do; this is probably the only time I remember him panicking and Pat saying, ‘Just leave her. She’s fine’ haha. Tough love dominated that situation fairly quickly.

Another memory is when I stayed with Pat & Mick when I was 17, and they allowed me to stay with them so I could attend Martial Arts for the week in Shepherd Bush. We all went out for drinks that first Saturday night and the rest was history, and I was ill for a few days afterwards with a hangover. It is so funny to think back and still remember that night out 35 years ago.

I was so proud of Mick when he was a taxi driver. I used to tell everyone my uncle was a taxi driver and completed the ‘Knowledge’. Wow, what a fantastic accomplishment! I will never forget how much it meant to him and how hard he studied to get certified. I always used to think how cool it would be to be picked up by Mick in his black cab as a passenger, and Mick lightened up their day with some trivia and a few giggles.
One of the reasons I am in Australia is the inspiration from Pat & Mick, I hadn’t heard of Australia until they lived there, and while I recall them doing it tough over there, I carried those travel stories with me for a long time and said I would visit there one day.

In closing, it’s so challenging being so far away in times like this , even though I lived so far away from him in Australia and would have loved to spend more time with him, what’s important to me is the time I did spend with him and the cherished memories which will always be with me
Mick, As you embark on your journey to eternity, know that you leave behind a legacy of love and kindness. We are grateful for all our memories, and you will never be forgotten. Take care, my hero….Love always Mike x x x

Dear Uncle Mick , even though I have not see you in the recent years you are truly are one of the warmest , kindest uncles anyone could wish for . You could always tell family was everything to you . God bless to you , Pat , Michelle and Ryan. Sending my deepest sympathy and love to you all . Graham xxx

Dear mick, the kindest person I ever met. I remember you fixing our leaking conservatory with the ladder half in and half out the window me sitting on one end and you on the other with a rope around your waist. Never fixed it be we did have such a laugh, it was like a Benny Hill sketch. Miss you so much mate. We did have a drink or two after and I think it was the time I had to help you over the road and then you had to help me back again, happy memories.

Dear Mick, we will miss you so much. We had some laughs when we were neighbours and after we both moved. I remember the nights you’d both come over for dinner in the evenings. You’d been on the whisky and me on the vodka !!! What a pair, you’d stagger home over the road to go home. Our standing joke with Pat was my roast potato’s weee better than hers !!! You always finished your plate. God bless mick always in our thoughts. Xx

You were always so welcoming to me and the kids when we came to visit always smiling and making us laugh it was an honour to of known you mick god bless xxx

Dearest brave Mick
I have so many memories of you that is the only thing that will keep me going in the months ahead - plus I know how tired you were and now you are out of pain, so sleep tight my love you was the best husband, dad and grandad in the world I love you so much I just hope you knew it xxxx