Big Brother Mike's Memorial Fund
Donation protected
Mike Collyer
It's with mixed emotions that I write that my very precious brother, Mike, who sadly died from a severe heart attack last Friday evening in Spain. Sad to lose a best friend and closest brother, but joyous to know with certainty that he is with His Father in heaven, he's free of pain and illness and enjoying hope fulfilled and great joy.
Mike's love of sailing started while he was at boarding school on the Isle of Wight and continued when he became a sailing instructor at Calshot activity centre on the Solent. It was here he met his wife Philippa.
Throughout his Army career and beyond, he continued his love of sailing, during which time he became an RYA yachtmaster and powerboat Instructor, and ran an Army Sailing School in Germany.
Mike had a very full life enjoying an 18 year career in the army, Royal Military Police rising to the rank of Major, during which time he served in many countries including Germany, Australia, N.Ireland, Canada, and the Falkland Islands where, besides partaking in Penguin watching and fly fishing, also had some time to do the day job of Provost Marshall (Head of police for all 3 services and the civilian police).
After his full, British Army career, Mike served as COO and consultant in the commercial fraud investigation Market and worked on corporate frauds spending time travelling the globe and working and living in South Africa, Switzerland, Australia, Khazakstan, Middle East, Thailand and Hong Kong to name a few.
Mike was loved firstly, by his wife Philippa, and son James and James' wife, Pip and his two grandaughters, his younger brother Simon, older sister Judy and their respective families and virtually everyone else who came into contact with him and his infectious humour. He was a loved and respected leader who impacted the lives of many and in his latter days was respected for the courage he demonstrated in enduring his illnesses.
Because of Mikes love of sailing and the sea, the family have asked that donations raised in memory of Mike (instead of flowers) go to the Sandown and Shanklin Independant Lifeboat (http://www.sandownlifeboat.com)
This seems fitting, especially as this Lifeboat service was set up by Mike's nephew Mark Birch who often sailed with Mike.
It's with mixed emotions that I write that my very precious brother, Mike, who sadly died from a severe heart attack last Friday evening in Spain. Sad to lose a best friend and closest brother, but joyous to know with certainty that he is with His Father in heaven, he's free of pain and illness and enjoying hope fulfilled and great joy.
Mike's love of sailing started while he was at boarding school on the Isle of Wight and continued when he became a sailing instructor at Calshot activity centre on the Solent. It was here he met his wife Philippa.
Throughout his Army career and beyond, he continued his love of sailing, during which time he became an RYA yachtmaster and powerboat Instructor, and ran an Army Sailing School in Germany.
Mike had a very full life enjoying an 18 year career in the army, Royal Military Police rising to the rank of Major, during which time he served in many countries including Germany, Australia, N.Ireland, Canada, and the Falkland Islands where, besides partaking in Penguin watching and fly fishing, also had some time to do the day job of Provost Marshall (Head of police for all 3 services and the civilian police).
After his full, British Army career, Mike served as COO and consultant in the commercial fraud investigation Market and worked on corporate frauds spending time travelling the globe and working and living in South Africa, Switzerland, Australia, Khazakstan, Middle East, Thailand and Hong Kong to name a few.
Mike was loved firstly, by his wife Philippa, and son James and James' wife, Pip and his two grandaughters, his younger brother Simon, older sister Judy and their respective families and virtually everyone else who came into contact with him and his infectious humour. He was a loved and respected leader who impacted the lives of many and in his latter days was respected for the courage he demonstrated in enduring his illnesses.
Because of Mikes love of sailing and the sea, the family have asked that donations raised in memory of Mike (instead of flowers) go to the Sandown and Shanklin Independant Lifeboat (http://www.sandownlifeboat.com)
This seems fitting, especially as this Lifeboat service was set up by Mike's nephew Mark Birch who often sailed with Mike.
Organizer
Simon Collyer
Organizer