Working with Michael during his years at MTU-UK was a real pleasure.

With Michael handling the Sunseeker account, the most time I spent with him was during the annual Sunseeker Distributor Conference, where he fronted our presence. I recall us travelling to the Bahamas, Madeira, Abu Dhabi, Ireland, Thailand and Mexico. Michael was always really in his element at these gatherings, literally knowing everyone in the room as if they’d been mates for years.

Great Exuma in the Bahamas was our first trip out and the theme for the first night was Mardi Gras. Unfortunately, our lairy shirts didn’t quite cut it and we vowed never to be behind the game again. Although not with us in Gt. Exuma, Michael took it upon himself to organise our outfits going forward. I think the next conference was in Ireland, where one theme night was loosely linked to South American dictators. Michael arranged for us to meet at a film and theatre costume hire company in East London and about an hour later we all walked out with original German WWII senior officer uniforms, plus various beards and moustaches. On the night, we deliberately made our entrance late and floored everyone in the room – we were back!! Clearly revelling in the attention, in subsequent years we were to be seen as knights in armour – where the kit and 4ft swords were so heavy, we had to get them air-freighted to Madeira and then geisha girls in Thailand, where Michael stood almost 7ft tall with his wig and always a bottle of beer in hand. Those were truly very special moments, thank you Michael.

Another funny memory was at the London Boat Show. I remember briefing the attending staff that this year money was tight, so we were on strict instructions from Germany to entertain sparingly. Clearly Michael didn’t quite get this detail as when he subsequently submitted his expenses for the show, he’d spent thousands, just at the Champagne bar!! When challenged, Michael just commented “mate, you just gotta do it”. Just to add some irony, some months later, I was contacted by the owners of the Champagne bar to ask whether we’d be interested in sponsoring the Champagne for the next year i.e. having MTU named labels on all the bottles – hilarious.

These times and many more will always stay with me and make me smile when thinking about them. Thanks Michael – cheers mate.