Michael Atkinson Spence (28 Sep 1935 - 3 Feb 2020)

In loving memory of Michael Atkinson Spence who sadly passed away on 3rd February 2020.

Michael (Mick) was born in Belfast in Northern Ireland on 28th September, 1935. Anyone that has made Mick's acquaintance will know that he was quite a character.

Michael made a promising start in life and, (as he regularly reminded us all), he won a gaelic scholarship. His was a traditional and fairly strict catholic upbringing and Michael's working life started early. There are many tales of his early entrepreneurial exploits that were opportunistic, inventive, resourceful and most of all profitable.

Michael left his home at 16 years of age and came to London. He had a role in digging the Dartford tunnel and was soon searching out better ways of earning a living. Eventually he got a job as a bread delivery driver at Motherspride bakery in Northumberland Heath which proved to be his spring board in to self employment. He owned and ran many small businesses over the years and remained self employed until his retirement. His resourcefulness knew no boundaries.

Mick met his wife to be, Pamela Janet Rixon, when he was 22 years of age. Michael had always wanted a big family and so he came to be the proud father of five sons, Mark, Sean, Michael, Nicholas and Christopher.

Michael and Pamela's children all graduated from university and this was a great source of pride for Michael.

Michael loved life. He loved music and socialising. He played a sharp game of pool and sometimes used such skill to very good effect. Michael also loved rugby and to travel. Michael took his family to Majorca in Spain in the 1960s well before package holidays were common place.

Over his life Michael travelled extensively. In San Francisco he got worse for wear on frozen margherita; he lost his spending money in Vegas; he had a marathon confessional session in New Zealand; he tango'd with an American in Scicily; he bantered with French rugby fans in Paris, the list goes on !

In the later stages of his life Michael recovered from some very serious illnesses including prostate cancer and a stroke. Eventually Michael contracted another cancer and that combined with pneumonia was to overwhelm him.

Michael will be missed by all whom came to know him, including five sons, fourteen grandchildren, two great grandchildren and many other family members and friends. Michael has lived a very full life and certainly left his mark
on this world. May he rest in peace.