Mike - RIP

I returned home yesterday after nearly two weeks away.  I had sent Sylvia my heartfelt condolences and we have had a couple of exchanges since then.  I only heard of the funeral details yesterday evening, so I am pleased that Mary GK has been able to post them on here.

I too loved the two photos of Mike that Sylvia had sent to her - and like Scylla, I thought Mike was a very handsome young man.  No wonder Sylvia fell for him in their youth!

I can add just three photos of Mike, both taken at Rutland when we surprised Patily on 22 June 2018

and one with Patily as her carer and the volunteer were maneuvering her chair so she could see the nest through the telescope.

Patily, pointing out the nest.

I have loved reading the various comments from everyone.  There are some lovely stories summing him up so well.

Your post is so apt Sheila, Thank you very much   for the excellent photos

Just a reminder of Mike's funeral, web cast, at 14.00.   https://watch.obitus.com   User name:  reto6844      Password  551335

Belt and braces in case one method doesn't work!

Heather (Glaslyn) has messaged me "just letting you know that we will also be asking people to pause chat on the streams for one minute at 2pm as a mark of respect for Mike."

I have logged in and tested my link. All in order.

A lovely service. What an outstanding man Mike was.

That was a lovely service. I assume that the dog belonged to Mike. Sadly no mention of ospreys which he devoted over 25 years to.

It was a lovely service, and confirmed what a wonderful person Mike was. If only I had known him properly, rather than phone calls and messages, one meeting and exchanges on the Forum.
I held back the tears until the end when the Chief Superintendent (?) came forward and saluted her farewell, repeating what she did at the beginning of the service. And the lovely dog was commanded to lie down, and to 'woof' farewell before leaving. My guess, although I don't know, is it was a Police Dog. Others may know better.
It was sad Tiger, but he had such a full life it must have been difficult to known when to stop.

Sheila - Thank You very much for adding your photos from your meeting with Mike and Patily, more memories of a happy day at Rutland. 

It was a lovely service, which summed Mike up to a T.   

He will be a sad miss to all those who knew him, I think Sylvia's poem was so fitting, and that is what I will be thinking, he is "there" 

I have messages on my Voice Mail and Answering machine, that I can hear his voice, so he will always be "there" and they will never be deleted. 

It was so apt that they mentioned Mike's guffaw when he laughed, something I will always remember too. 

I believe the dog was a Police Dog too Sheila. 

In 2018  I attended the funeral of Philip Eden  and  memorial service  for   Heinz Wolff      and in the former case in particular I was struck by now much I did not know about them. This funeral leaves me feeling somewhat similar. Mike Simmons as we knew him was an exceptional man. As I said my only sadness is that I never got to meet him. 

Very sad indeed to hear of the loss of Mike Simmons. He will be sadly missed. I would like to add my condolences to his family and close friends.