Memories of Mick

[baz]

Supermick was a real comedian so its been suggested we have a thread that anyone can post on with their memories of him:)

I remember first meeting Soopamick at Bisley BBS meet in 2000, he was enjoying himself immensely meeting all the people he had only met virtually before that day, he had one of his infamous Crosmann "Ratcatchers" with the 3ft barrel "upgrade" and was blatting the 55yd knockdown with regular monotony, lending it to anyone that looked remotely interested:D

Another that springs to mind was Mick with his beloved Alfa hitched to his Caravan, surely the fastest bit of towing known to modern man:eek: He also did a mean breakfast

Theres lots of other things that spring to my mind but I am knackered and cant decide which to post:cool:

I am told that any happy memories posted about Mick may just put a smile on Jennys face in this very difficult time:)

Baz

[kev hughes]

Dont mention the Alfa Baz :eek: Sparky and myself had a lift with Mick from somewhere on the M4 to LV one day, as it was our first trip there and he did'nt want us to get lost. I think my knuckles have just about recovered and had the car not been written off some time later would probably still have had my nail marks on the dash :D. He was'nt what you would call a slow driver.

He also had a soft spot for treacle pudding as we found out at the little Welsh foray at Parc-le-Breos. He often got reminded about that and his eyes would go all glassy as if in a day dream about it :D:D


And what are we going to do this coming Stright season :(:D

Kev

[baxterbasics]

My finger prints must be permanently engraved in the Dash of his Mercedes:D Not to mention the "Right boot" scrape marks on his carpet:D

Mick "Bloody down hill racers"
Me "Er,how fast are we going now?"
Mick "95-Don`t worry-loads left yet"
Me "Gulp!"
Mick "Got Him!!"
Me "Jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeezussssssss!"
Kellie in the back seat,somewhere "H.h.h.ow m m much further Mick":D:D

We left Pirbright at 6.30 and arrived at the game fair at 6.35:D

The first time I took him to Bisley with me,I took a variety of pcp technology-Anschutz,Daystate etc. I offered him the use of one,he gave me a look of derision,whipped out his trusty Theoben Break Barrel and embarrased us on the 55 yard resetters:D

[The Doctor]

I have a couple memories of Mick - a few I am sure the HFT lads will remember the one year he turned up to Millride to set his caravan up 'on level ground' - then disappeared half way up the field to start his own encampment:-)

The next year, Nev had been given specific instructions to make sure that no-one parked in the lower end of the field because over night rain had turned it into a bog; Mick appeared, Nev turned his back, and low and behold, Alfa and caravan were beached......to my relief one of the lads turned up to retrieve him from the bog, but not until his car was covered in the best top soil in the Midlands. I was in tears when Mick got out the car - and lets just say he had some choice words for me....but he soon saw the funny side of it.

Will miss you mate,

Lee

[Adam (KOS)]

I never knew Mick well. But the way this thread is going some of you posts will go well in his euligy ( Spelling :o)

[Kingplinker]

How about my christmas message to the mods >>> clicky <<< (http://pic1.picturetrail.com/VOL1134/3985027/11451877/215840656.jpg)

Mick used to crack me up in between bailing me out of trouble on here :D

Dave

[Gary C]

Sammie and me in the car heading back from Quarry and I see Lee G in his caravan. We overtake and I say to Sammie - pull in to the services I'm going to moon the git when we go past him again.

We pulled out after a van, I was just getting them down when I saw Micks face in the car window.

He seemed quite stern then so I was a tad relieved not to have shown him my "stern"

[baz]

How about my christmas message to the mods >>> clicky <<< (http://pic1.picturetrail.com/VOL1134/3985027/11451877/215840656.jpg)

Mick used to crack me up in between bailing me out of trouble on here :D

Dave

Actually I quite like the improvement:D Mind you looking at it again I certainly do look like my dad, and he was 97 at the time!

TDs looks like a bit "Afro'ish" and Mick looks like David Ballamy:D

[Jamie]

I met Mick at LV, I think it might have been the first meet. I played with one of his Super-Ratties most of the afternoon, and then his .25 mercury. Spent the next few months pestering him online about modding ratties and ratting with .25. A more approachable, helpful and friendly bloke I have never met. Another time he posted me a load of pellets of varying types to try in my new gun. I've been away from the BBS for a long time, and lost touch with Mick, but I'm proud to have called him a friend.
Jamie

[steven]

I remember having breakfast at LV with Mick and Terry D.
Having differing views on the issue of armed police, a debate ensued, drawing the finest dry wit both had to offer.
It was like Hinge & Bracket with top drawer comedy. :)

[roger 62]

A few that spring to mind:

Him leading the 'February Revolution' at LV and laying the foundations for the development of the club.

Roping me into the committee when I couldn't think of a 'no' fast enough, and then buggering off & leaving us to it.

Him making me and JDP present and then get a vote for every single change to the then LV constitution - it took about an hour!!

The numerous Ratcatcher modifications, when I saw it I thought 'Oh yeah, right' but the he then proceeded to hit the 65 yard bell 5/5 and delighted in telling all the Mk3 owners how it cost 1/6th of their rifles.

Doing HFT with a .25:D

Him, Derek and possibly Ron taking the out of Simon (sorry Simon!) by arranging up a dead rabbit in a munching pose and then collapsing in giggles as Simon stalked it, bopped it and then looked confused as it didn't fall or run. The story got funnier with each telling :D:D

Most of all I'll remember his kindness to new and confused shooters on their first visit to the club / a meet. He went the extra mile for people he hardly knew.

There's a nice photo of Mick on the 'news' section of the club website - thanks to Warby for sorting it

R

El Sec

[Terry D]

I too have done the Alfa seat-grab, all the way to Lea Valley and back.

"What's the matter, Tel - surely you're not nervous?"

"No Mick, I'm not nervous, mate. I am, however, absolutely bloody terrified!"

"You want to see someone about that, Tel."

"I'd be happy just to see my family again, if it's all the same to you, Mick!"

"Well why didn't you say you were missing them? I'll get the old foot down and have you home in no time."
:o

Oh yes, thanks to Mick, my pants know the colour of fear. :eek:

[delta1]

Roger's summed him up for me in this sentence.

"Most of all I'll remember his kindness to new and confused shooters on their first visit to the club / a meet. He went the extra mile for people he hardly knew."

He didn't really know me, but made me feel like I'd known him for years.

He set standards for us all.:)

[baxterbasics]

Mick bumped into an old friend at the Midland last year. He was at the fair with his wife. Due to physical problems,he was using one of the show provided electric carts. Due to an electrical fault,the cart was barely able to move. Mick pushed his friend around most of the fair-this act of selfless generosity will be one of the enduring memories I have of him:)
Oh yeah,when I sugested he let me push,as he was too old(:D),he told me to "Bugger Off-you cheeky young sod":D

[stevew71]

Baz, you capped a few off in your opening post, but..........

the git jinxed myself and Ian (Acenorth) twice on the trot to such an extent I told him to go fornicate off and had to translate the scouse equivalent from Ian ;) Mick and I share(d) a distain for prone shots, and on more than one occasion didn't bother, his 60yd standing shot on the squirrel with his .20 Fenman at Quarry and the look on his face will stay with me....... As will the ribbing Keith (GH) got when his beloved Axsor went OTT at a shoot, the only problem was that Mick and myself did not get a piccy of Keith using my Rapid.

Oh by the way I overtook Mick twice in his Alfa, both times in my Landy!!!!!

Oh and everytime I go to Weston I'll be waiting for a voice to come over my shoulder saying 'can you believe what he's charging for that ?'

[Acenorth.]

1st Met mick at the Chester HFT back in 2003, he was camping with Derek and if I remember correctly they where in a small blue pug with a trailer in tow. He didnt know me from adam but was quick to give as much advice and tips to me and my mate Karl.

The next time I bumped into him was the afforementioned time that Lee H mentioned (Millride) he set up camp at the top end of the field. If my fading memory serves me correct there was Karl and myself camping along with Craig Miller and Shaggypack, Badgeroy was camping in his van too. The weather was rather cold minus 5 to be exact and believe me it was freezing.

Mick had the kettle on supplying hot drinks and even cooked me a full english in the morning. A generous, kind hearted gent that will be missed.

Gone are the days of the old HFT and although there are a lot of excellent characters about on the circuit today, not many meet up to Micks standards.

Ian :(

[Retracted_Yeti]

Gone are the days of the old HFT and although there are a lot of excellent characters about on the circuit today, not many meet up to Micks standards.

Ian :(

You are not wrong there Ian, this camping, the nights before the shoots were what made me attend as many as I have, the crack, the laughs(the beer!), sadly seem in short supply nowadays, which is why I dont, wont, be doing anywhere near as many in the future.................it's great turning up in a field in the middle of nowhere on a Fri night and being the only sad Ba____d there!:o

Sorry, not quite the right place for a post like this but Mick made it worthwhile turning up on the Fri night!:D
You will be missed Mick!;)

Cheers.

Roy.

[Nev]

Mick was one of the first people to welcome me to Lea Valley when I went to my first HFT TPC style shoot and together with Derek with his mobile house help me put up my flimsy tent. Here's a picture of that event, Mick in white next to the bloke with a gun and me with a silly hat on behind the bloke with the pink camo jacket http://www.ukahft-photos.org.uk/coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/118-1881_IMG_JPG.jpg

All memories of Mick were good ones when I used to take Elliot to the UKAHFT shoots if I couldn't find him and Mick was on the site I would only have to go to his caravan to find Elliot sitting at the table with the lads (without a beer):rolleyes: too sociable that dog!

Then there was the shoot we had at the Chester club way back before Sparky and myself launched the UKAHFT on you lot , I'd painted all the targets black including the kill zones much to the Dismay of our Supermick especially as they were tucked away in the shadows:D:D:D and I beat him:D for the first and last time:D Still have some pictures of that event.

A great guy that will be sorely missed by all that knew him.

Nev

[sparky]

When me and Mick used to go on hunting trips to North Wales, he used to come here first to pick me up and then hit the road for the 3 ½ hour journey (apart from the time he got lost and it took us 6 hours)

How he and another chap came back white as a sheet after seeing a huge black cat up in the mountains.

Mick used to love this story, about 5 of us split up and me Mick and Bob ended up on this verge just chilling, we then noticed one of the other lads at the bottom stalking a squirrel, he took about 10mins creeping through the undergrowth etc to get within a decent range of this squirrel and as he shoulder the gun and was about to pull the trigger I shot the squirrel, Mick was in tears with laughter as the other chat wasn’t amused.

But he used to get me every time regarding Football, I would always ask him how Man Utd were doing when we were away as he had a radio with him all the time and he used wind me up all the time by saying they were losing or lost and get be going but saying how rubbish they were etc.

There’s a few other stories and laughs we had about other things but too much to go on here.

Pete

[Bob]

When me and Mick used to go on hunting trips to North Wales, he used to come here first to pick me up and then hit the road for the 3 ½ hour journey (apart from the time he got lost and it took us 6 hours)

How he and another chap came back white as a sheet after seeing a huge black cat up in the mountains.

Mick used to love this story, about 5 of us split up and me Mick and Bob ended up on this verge just chilling, we then noticed one of the other lads at the bottom stalking a squirrel, he took about 10mins creeping through the undergrowth etc to get within a decent range of this squirrel and as he shoulder the gun and was about to pull the trigger I shot the squirrel, Mick was in tears with laughter as the other chat wasn’t amused.

But he used to get me every time regarding Football, I would always ask him how Man Utd were doing when we were away as he had a radio with him all the time and he used wind me up all the time by saying they were losing or lost and get be going but saying how rubbish they were etc.

There’s a few other stories and laughs we had about other things but too much to go on here.

Pete
Pete that moment was special wasn't it

I honestly thought Mick was gonna roll down that hill laughing

[sparky]

Pete that moment was special wasn't it

I honestly thought Mick was gonna roll down that hill laughing


I think he was still in shock 2 days later:D

Pete

[ChrisSR]

Rest in peace Mick, I remember you from when this BBS was a much less crowded place.
Chris(Tigger C)

[Rapidnick]

My memory of Mick was when he came to a special airgun section meeting at Cobham. The meeting was exceptionally bad tempered and in fact ended up with little old ME being thrown out of the club shortly afterwards for having the temerity to point out at a subsequent meeting that a) the NON VOTING airgun section effectively funded the whole forking club and b) without the revenues from the section the club would go BUST very quickly.:mad: A few Cobham/bbs members including Jon (Buddyboy) Graham (baxterbasics) Martin (landyman) Chris (oildropper) Nick (bomag) and Mick adjourned to the pub to consider what we would do next. Sadly it didn't help much because soon after that meeting I was chucked out and the main members of the section left in support thus effectively ending airgun shooting at Cobham. That was the last time I saw Mick and I will always remember his wise counsel and fund of shooting stories with great affection-now of course tinged with great sadness at his sudden departure from us.:(

[rabbitstopper]

Sorry to dig this up from the past but I only just found out he passed away after been away from this site for over 6 years now.

Well I have so many great memories of the guy but I can quite honestly say he is easily one of the nicest people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting and was a true gent and would bend over backwards to help me.

I remember quite a few rides in the White Alfa but being a kid then I used to love it :)