ChrisR Posted December 17, 2011 Share Posted December 17, 2011 Although I never knew Mike personally, it is Very sad to learn of the passing of the major organiser of the York Show: especially so at this time of year. Our thoughts are with his family at this time. I'm sure his legacy will be very evident at the 2012 event and everyone will pull together to make it a splendid tribute to him and his skills. From all at Burgess HIll MRC Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Kazmierczak Posted December 17, 2011 Share Posted December 17, 2011 Sad to hear the death of another railway modelling legend. My thoughts are with his family and friends. Mike was a true railway modeller, who got on with his modelling and actually completed layouts (as if any layout can be considered as finished). An inspiration to those of us who just scratch around and never finish anything worthwhile. I imagine Mike is now sitting by the sea-wall in the sky watching a procession of Kings, Castles, Counties, Halls, Granges..... pass by in the summer sunshine. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judge Dread Posted December 17, 2011 Share Posted December 17, 2011 I too remember Mike from the days of the assembly rooms and stubbing my toes on the pillars bases there. We will not see his like again, a tough act to follow. My thoughts go out to his family and friends. R.I.P. Mike. John Wass. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold john new Posted December 17, 2011 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted December 17, 2011 RIP Mike - he always had a kind word for the silly little girl playing with her Dad's trains; even when the silly girl became a silly young woman. I knew Mike my whole life, though didn't see him too often as I got older and moved away, but he always said he remembered sitting with me on his lap watching Button Moon and being grateful for the excuse to watch silly kids TV. A good and kind man; he will be sorely missed. Now the whole world is your train set Mike - enjoy! Eleanor Grady (posting on dad's login) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Phil Parker Posted December 17, 2011 Administrators Share Posted December 17, 2011 Very sad news. We will be bringing Flockburgh to York next year and were really proud to have been asked to the 50th Show. York is a stand-out show in the calendar - as my Dad always said, "If we could only do one show a year, I'd like to do York." Mike has left a heck of a legacy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pennine MC Posted December 17, 2011 Share Posted December 17, 2011 Like many others, the York show was my first taste of exhibitions outside of my home town. I might even have gone even before I joined Hull MRS, to be amazed by layouts like Yatton Junction and Gainsborough (predecessor to High Dyke). RIP Mike, next year's show will indeed be a bit special. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penlan Posted December 18, 2011 Share Posted December 18, 2011 ..... I imagine Mike is now sitting by the sea-wall in the sky watching a procession of Kings, Castles, Counties, Halls, Granges..... pass by in the summer sunshine. .... and playing his accordion. Memory fades but was it the Brown Cow a few years ago, and long before that the xyz, were Mike led some wonderful evenings based around folk music and rugby song sessions over the Easter weekend long ago? The North Gwent Modellers and Cardiff Club lads would know (OK, yes, local lads would know too, but that wasn't my social circle). Back in the early 70's Mike managed to make York one of the four major shows, York, Manchester, Bristol and London (but which London Exhibition, I can't recall), I certainly remember Mike's layouts at White Ladies Road in Bristol, and the foray up to York at Easter that I made from Somerset/Norfolk in the early 70's. 'The Show That Never Ends', great Book (they may still have a few copies in the Barbican Book Shop in York - http://www.barbicanbookshop.co.uk/ ) says a lot, if not it all. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Hughes Posted December 18, 2011 Share Posted December 18, 2011 Rest in peace Mike - it was a pleasure knowing you ! Let us hope the York show this year and in the future fulfils your legacy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redkiterail Posted December 18, 2011 Share Posted December 18, 2011 The family has my thoughts, 50 years old wow that is some achievement for a model railway show. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andania 213 Posted December 18, 2011 Share Posted December 18, 2011 RIP Mike, many thanks for putting something special into Easter for so many folk. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Barry O Posted December 18, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 18, 2011 Penlan said: .... and playing his accordion. Memory fades but was it the Brown Cow a few years ago, and long before that the xyz, were Mike led some wonderful evenings based around folk music and rugby song sessions over the Easter weekend long ago? Penlan - happy memories of "Bobby Shaftoe" played by the Captain on no less than Heartbeat- and some songs from the Lady Ann Middleton ( never attended the Yorvik) with the Captain. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Scott Posted December 18, 2011 Share Posted December 18, 2011 very saddened to hear of Mikes passing, have known him over 20 years as a teenager who attended the normanton shows and watched him operate and demo, then as a club member and exhibition manager, thought it an honour when he asked me if i would consider being his floor manager a few years ago at york, sadly at the time other commitments resulted in me not being able to take the job, but was privileged he thought of me worthy to help him with york show. Feel ive lost a friend and mentor and an icon of this hobby of ours. god bless. Richard. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koyli Posted December 18, 2011 Share Posted December 18, 2011 A sad loss for the hobby. RIP Mike. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Western Stalwart Posted December 18, 2011 Share Posted December 18, 2011 Sorry to hear the news about Mike. When I was a member of the Western Model Railway Society back in the 1980s we were invited to attend the exhibition with our German outline layout Akten Vohwinkle. Great show with plenty of organised evening entertainment. Last night was a barn dance with a female troupe of morris dancers as part of the activites who really were very aggresive with the banging of the sticks and indeed a lump broke off one a hit my beer glass. I also remember the terrible hangover the next day. How I survived operating the layout, packing up and driving the van back to Acton in London, unloading and then going to work for a 6AM start the following day I don't know. Thanks for a great show Mike! May I offer my deepest sympathies to his family and friends. He will be deeply missed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicktuk159 Posted December 19, 2011 Share Posted December 19, 2011 Both my Wife and I are deeply saddened by this news .. we finally joined the York community only this year but whenever commitments allowed York Show was a constant on our calendar as paying guests. I approached our first York with a certain amount of trepidation despite having been on the circuit for all but fifteen years by that time ... from start to finish I was roundly impressed by the spirit of all in Mike's team ... I asked if I could have a power supply and within five minutes three electricians had called at my stand I well remember the warmth with which Mike's arrival onsite was greeted this year ... not many Exhibition Managers attract such affection I can tell you Condolences Nick & Joan Tozer Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterl Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 I can confirm that Mike's funeral will take place in York on December 30th. If you are thinking of attending and would like more details then please PM me. Peter Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 96701 Posted December 21, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 21, 2011 Jen used to work with Mike behind the bar at the Spread Eagle, so I didn't meet him through railway modelling. He was always a gent, and we had quite a bit of banter in Suddaby's in Malton, and the following was posted by Kevin Holland:- I've suggested that we have a 2 minute silence for Mike at our Ebor Morris New year dance out, followed by the Escrick Sword Dance. Mike inspired so many children to try longsword dancing. Many strings to his bow, he'll be missed Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penlan Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 .......Many strings to his bow, he'll be _issed. ...and the missing letter is ?... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 96701 Posted December 21, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 21, 2011 ...and the missing letter is ?... m honest. Now corrected. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold john new Posted December 29, 2011 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted December 29, 2011 Two things - 1) I've suggested that we have a 2 minute silence for Mike at our Ebor Morris New year dance out, followed by the Escrick Sword Dance As an ex Ebor Morris man I think that is a good way to mark his passing, however perhaps the more modern way of the 2 minutes applause might be an even better tribute at a dance out.. 2) Assuming no-one has any objections in the next day or so I intend to copy your tributes onto the Mike Cook tribute page I have set up on the YMRS website. If any member who uses a pseudonym on here would prefer that their true name be recorded instead can they PM me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottiedog Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 A few years ago I acquired the station buildings and coal drops from Mike's LNER (yes LNER!) exhibition layout "Sinnington" which featured in a number of articles in the Railway Modeller in early 1991. They have stood the test of time and now form an integral part of my own exhibition layout "Stainsby ". In a small way I suppose I have my own memorial to him. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rumblestripe Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 Just found out about Mike's sad passing before Christmas. I met him only briefly once in the late 70s I would think. I look back on those shows in the Assembly Rooms as something magical, there was a real "atmosphere" of bonhomie at those shows that has never been recaptured at the racecourse. Though they are unmissable in a different way. We as fellow hobbyists in the North have much to be grateful for in what Mike achieved. Thanks Mike for the great shows. Love and thoughts to those who knew him best, his family and friends. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold john new Posted January 17, 2012 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted January 17, 2012 Apologies for the later update than usual for the YMRS website with details for 2012. I am back from a couple of breaks away from home for family events and therefore page updating is now in progress for the York MRS 2012 listings. Commenced today with updated header and work on the layouts page listings, the Demonstrator & Society sections together with the all important Traders page. Further updates will be done over the next few days as time permits, known updates still to come include revisions to the travel page notes for both road and bus users. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterl Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 Details will be sent to clubs by Peco at the beginning of February. Currently 'stuffing' the envolopes Peter Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterl Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 Details will be sent to clubs by Peco at the beginning of February. Currently 'stuffing' the envolopes Peter Still stuffing the envelopes !!!!!!!!! (well I will be when I have finished on the forum!) Peter Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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