Michael Washington “Mick”

“Sad are the hearts that love you. Silent the tears that fall”

Peacefully at home on 17th December 2021, Mick passed away knowing he was loved and cared for by his devoted family aged 69 years.

The loving Husband of Sue. Cherished Dad of Karen and her Husband Mark, Stuart & his partner Andy.  A very special Grandad of Herbie and a much loved Brother & Friend.

His funeral took place on Monday 10th January at Crewe Crematorium Chapel at 12.15pm….Micks 70th Birthday so please feel it appropriate to wear bright colours.

Family flowers only. Kind donations in memory of Mick are going to Macmillan @ Leighton Hospital.

For further information please telephone our Funeral Home on 01270 584447

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The ceremony to celebrate Mick’s life was on 10th January which would have been
his seventieth birthday so despite the heartache felt by everyone, the best present
they could give to Mick was to honour his wonderful character rather than mourn his
death. Mick was unbelievably courageous, he never complained and fought hard to
survive. He had grown tired, yet he still prioritised the emotions and needs of his
family above his own.
Mick was a devoted dad to Kaz and Stu. Kaz described him as her bravest and
biggest hero and was extremely proud of his generous and empathetic nature, going
round all the other patients cheering them all up. He was admired by everyone he
met, reaching cult status, a true legend, he even had the ability to get people
laughing regardless of how ill or worried they were. In December 2019, he was
instrumental in getting everyone together to enjoy a Christmas party in the unit,
never been done before or since.
Throughout his life, Mick was always smiling, he had the nack of brightening
everyone’s day. He was so easily pleased and had everything he needed to make
his life complete. His family were the centre of his world, his wonderful wife, two
amazing children, son in law’s Mark and Andy, and his adored grandson Herbie, who
he called ‘his little Tater’
Mick was the eldest brother to Shirley, John, Jane, Kenny, Pete and the late Steven,
June and Alan and was up there on a pedestal for all the love, support and
protectiveness he and Sue have given them over the years, always there when they
needed him. He was a brother-in-law to Marian, Richard, Sam and the late Mick, an
uncle and great uncle and knew most of Crewe. He had many close friendships like
his old mucker, Howard Jennings, who also recently passed away.
Mick made many lasting friendships playing snooker at the Post Office Club. He
also played for many years with his brothers Steven and John at the Pioneers Club
and regularly went to the Lion and Swan on West Street.
Dave Morgan has been a massive support over the years to Mick and the family,
often phoning Mick up and making him laugh. He would often drop by with
something he had cooked up to tempt Mick’s tastebuds and I gather Dave always
referred to Mick and brother Steve as ‘the brother’s grim!’ Sadly, Dave couldn’t be at
the ceremony but managed to watch on the webcast link.
Living in Newcastle Street between 1978 and 1985, Mick and Sue made lots of long-
lasting friendships amongst the neighbours and subsequently in Rochester Crescent.
Sue is a massive Cliff Richard fan and often went with the Asda girls to see him in
concert, then at some point, the lads joined the inner sanctum, tagging along on
Shearings holidays with the girls, a gang of them regularly went on the turkey and
tinsel trips around Christmas and in March 2018 the gang went to Switzerland to
celebrate Mick’s retirement, after a year’s delay, they experienced the Glacier
Express trip.

A group of them regularly enjoyed going for meals out. So many lovely memories
with special friends, Linda and Graham – Graham used to take Mick to the
Conservative Club, now the Nantwich Club and Mick always referred to him as dad!
Brenda and John, Kath and Ag, Sheila and Derek, Andy and Rose, Joan and Bill. It
was impossible to mention everyone by name in the short time available.
Married for fifty years last June, Mick and Sue were two halves to a whole, true
soulmates who were devoted to each other and to their loving family and although
they have not always had it easy for many reasons, they were blessed with
happiness despite the pressures they faced.
Remembering Mick
Born at the Cliffe in Wybunbury, Mick was the eldest of nine but he, Shirley and
Steve were closest in age and went many places together like Hampton Court on the
train and trips to New Brighton. They attended Brierley Street School and spent
much of their childhood in one of the railway houses on Thomas Street before
moving to Stanthorne Avenue.
Mick was a butcher’s boy, doing errands on a bike very much like his pal Howard
from the age of thirteen then after leaving school in 1967 at the age of fifteen,
instead of enjoying the easter holidays, he started work the very next day at Ellis
Turner butchers, next door to the Lyceum.
He left in 1973 and worked for a short time at Rolls Royce and he also considered
doing an apprenticeship at the works but was encouraged by his father to stay in
butchery but was ideally suited to a customer facing role, always incredibly smart in
a shirt and tie, and he loved talking to the customers.
There was lots of banter between the lads on the market stalls, Howard Jennings,
Albert Blackshaw and Tony Davies and a fair bit of rivalry with them all competing for
the best shop front. Stu remembers as a young lad; he was regularly sent to check
how many customers each shop had and what the shop fronts looked like.
Mick left the market to join Gary Barnes Butchers in West Street then between 1976
and 1988, he took up a position in the works thinking he was leaving the trade
behind for good but after a chance meeting with Howard on the Bridge Inn car park
in 1977, Howard persuaded Mick to help him out at his West Street shop and after
she moved into a flat off West Street, Mick’s mum used to make delicious meat and
potato pies and jugs of gravy for the lads in the shop. Eventually Howard moved
back to the Market but Mick still helped out.
Howard and Mick were both very good looking, the dream team! Karen remembers
she worked in the market for Tony Davies and often spent her breaks with her dad.
He was often paid in meat, and Kaz and Stu were the envy of all the kids eating
meat every day of the week. All the girls thought he was gorgeous, and he used to
dish out penguins and blue-ribbon biscuits to all Kaz’s mates.

So how did he meet the absolute love of his life? They first set eyes on each other
on a Wednesday night in late October as they were walking down West Street. Sue
was walking home from the Alex with her neighbour Alan Harden and when Mick
appeared, he started chatting to Alan.
Alan and Sue turned down Frank Webb Avenue and Mick continued on West Street
to go to his grans! The next time they bumped into each other was on Bonfire night
at Queens Park and there were obviously more fireworks going off than the ones
being lit!
Just three days later, they were a courting couple, and much to her mate’s
displeasure, Sue suddenly had a keen interest in her new romance and less of an
interest in going to the Alex. She and Mick used to frequent the Bridge Inn, British
Legion, the MUR on Nantwich Road and the Earl of Crewe – boozy theme going on
there! Sue’s parents Jack and Eileen instantly fell for his charm and good looks,
fortunately he had a lot in common with Jack and they were the best of friends
despite Jack being a Man City fan and accusing Mick of being on the wrong side with
Man United.
They got engaged two years later in 69 and after exchanging their lasting vows on
June 26 th in 1971, they lived in a two bedroomed house in Rigg Street for seven
years. After welcoming Kaz and Stu into the world, they found a family home in
Newcastle Street even having a gate put between them and next door for easy
access, then after moved to Rochester Crescent they still always welcomed people
with an ever-open door and a brew.
After being made redundant from the works, Mick had several jobs before he
became a signalman for Railtrack, he had an incredibly strong work ethic and never
believed in taking a sickie unless he was on his last legs! He desperately wanted to
work until he reached sixty-five but sadly had to retire with ill health in September
2016.
And what about holidays? As a young family they had fabulous holidays every June
and September at the Warren in Dawlish travelling on free passes on the overnight
sleeper.
He was always frightened at the thought of flying so holidays abroad were never in
his to do list. But one day when he was in the bath, in 1983 to be precise after Sue’s
insurance policy matured, she booked a holiday to the Hotel Panorama in :’Estatit,
Spain travelling by train and boat and when she broke the news, he was convinced
they would get lost! Yet despite his initial concerns, one he had been, it was the best
thing since sliced bread or fillet steak! In 1993, they boarded their first flight to
Puerto Pollensa in Majorca and never looked back.
Three years later they ventured to Benidorm and returned at least twenty five times
since and in different hotels; our Mrs Trip advisor Sue could list them all! Always
enjoying the vibrant atmosphere, live shows and tribute acts such as Frank Sinatra
and the Drifters. Mick was an avid sun worshipper, with no effort he tanned
naturally, and he would assume his position, pint in hand, sat on the sunbed before
lying in the full sun.

They had some amazing holidays in Portugal with Stu and Andy and apparently Kaz
went once but then she met the love of her life! Stu reminisced about the time they
were in Vilamoura in May 2012 looking for a bar with a TV to watch the battle for
promotion to football league one between Crewe Alex and Cheltenham Town at
Wembley.
Once the TV was switched from Formula One, the bar emptied except for two guys
and what were the chances, they were Cheltenham fans! Needless to say, the Alex
sank Cheltenham 2:0!
Mick and Sue travelled extensively, he loved his sun sand and relaxation but also
enjoyed city breaks to places like Basel, Bruge and Amsterdam.
Traditionally they celebrated their major anniversaries abroad. Their silver was
spent in the lap of luxury on a Cruise round the Med finishing up at Cala D’or in
Majorca for a week.
Their ruby visiting Venice, Verona, Simione and Lake Garda. Their forty fifty in
Sorrento and Capri and the Golden in the back garden – it was supposed to be on a
cruise round the Greek Islands, but nevertheless, the garden party was a success.
The sun was out, the colour theme was Turquoise like the bridesmaid dresses and
Gold fitting the occasion and there were even yellow cupcakes! Mick was thrilled,
sat watching everyone enjoy themselves and in charge of the proceedings!
The best day of his life was the day his ‘little Tater’ was born! Kaz recalled how her
dad somehow managed to get into the secured area, no one knows how he
managed it but as she was being wheeled through following a C Section, his was the
first face she saw!
So, Herbie, where do we start – they idolised each other, joined at the hip, he and
grandad packed so much fun into the last eight years. They always loved swimming
together as recently as six weeks ago. They loved the beach, building sandcastles,
going to the cinema. Train rides, walks along the canal, trips to Wheelock Farm,
Play World. Grandad always left a little stash of pocket money in the draw and his
dream was to take Herbie to Edinburgh and London on the train.
One last thing he did for Kaz, Mark and Herbie was to pay for them to go to Es Cana
in Ibiza, Herbie loved it and his seashells are going with grandad. Stu had the
equivalent in money so he will enjoy getting his garden in order.
But that was Mick, immensely loving, thoughtful and generous. He was full of fun,
loved dressing up for Christmas and Halloween and last Halloween was done on
face time! He fought so hard, never lost hope nor his sense of humour.

May he rest in peace.