Michael was our cousin but my sisters, Hilary and Lynda, live overseas (NZ & USA) so didn’t know Michael as I did.
Hilary was delighted to see him 2 years ago when she was visiting me. They had a lovely chat and Michael was his usual wonderful empathetic persona who brought out the best in everyone he met. Thereafter Hilary always wanted to know how he was and whether I had seen him recently.
Unfortunately, my visits to Michael, and family contacts, became few and far between once he moved away from the Tring area but whenever possible I visited Michael and Mary in Knighton. Then, when they moved to Macclesfield, we were able to visit a little more often. Despite us all ageing we enjoyed meeting and I was very sorry to have missed Mary’s memorial service in Knighton. We continued seeing Michael at Mount Hall and it was always good until last November. Then, Michael did not remember me, but he was still the same caring person who wanted to be polite and kind.
He asked Alison, who we think he thought was one of his daughters, “Would it be churlish if I asked him (me) to leave?”
He was such a gentleman and, although I was upset that he had forgotten me, it made me proud that he was still able to think of others feelings. That was the caring Michael I had always known and will always remember. I’m pleased that I’m still part of the family.