A TRIBUTE TO A LIFE WELL LIVED!
Prepared and shared by Gill, one of Michael’s daughters, at his Funeral 


As a tribute to Michael we have gathered memories from family and friends - in dad’s own words “he had a good innings” and although he may not have made a century, the following reminds us a life well lived!

One of dad’s many phrases, well known to his family, was that “any man who leaves the world poorer than he enters it, has only himself to blame”. Far from leaving poorer, during his lifetime Dad enriched the lives of many and he has left a priceless legacy through his family and the many lives that he has touched, with his acts of kindness and good counsel.


To capture all of Michael’s many activities and achievements throughout his 93 years would simply take too long. First and foremost dad was all about family - he was a son, brother, husband, father, uncle and Bampa; second, he was committed to public service as a lawyer, a politician and a campaigner, he held the position of a deputy circuit judge and was also a significant contributor to the life and success of Lytham St Anne’s and beyond through his involvement in many organisations. To name a few…….represented St Joseph‘s on Churches Together, chaired the Local Strategic Partnership, was Chairman of BLESMA , was a founding chairman of the MedicoLegal Society and was either the chair or president of numerous political and professional bodies. He was particularly thrilled to be president of the local division of St John’ Ambulance and took great pride in representing them as he marched in uniform in the annual Lytham Club Day procession. Seeing him march was a huge thrill for his young grand children - they didn’t know quite why he was there, if he was perhaps a part time policeman but they knew he looked “very smart” and they cheered him on from the road side. 


The fact that Michael was awarded an OBE in 1994 for his political and public service is a tribute to all that dad did and for which we are all very proud.


Dad was born in 1928 and was the big brother to Chris who followed a couple of years later. These brothers were always very close and had a mischievous streak that they maintained throughout their lives. We were often reminded of how they secured for themselves the best cakes on the plate by politely picking up the dish and offering it to the other brother first and then returning the compliment. Interestingly this was a trick Michael maintained with his sweet tooth and his love of chocolate biscuits – to overcome any parental restrictions, he would bring out the tin and offer them around to his grandchildren first too, always with a twinkle in his eye!


Going back to Michael and his brother Chris, they could also be quite competitive. A good example is when as young boys they were required to recite the poem ‘The Jackdaw of Rheims’ in front of their maiden aunts. Apparently, Chris always delivered an Oscar-winning performance compared to Michael’s accurate but less theatrical delivery. I’m sure our cousins, like ourselves, can still recite the first few lines. I wonder if it was perhaps this experience that embedded in dad the desire to always be ready to address an audience, whether they were expecting it or not, on any occasion. I can only imagine how many of you here today have heard dad give one of his famous talks on Lancashire Castles or ‘vote of thanks’!


The brothers grew up in Silverdale during the war and this sowed the seeds of Michael’s love of the Lake District. We have spent so many happy holidays up there, especially with fellow members of the local caravan rally group. Our trips to the Langdales and Borrowdale became legendary for our family and the Prices, Williams and Livesey families! 


Dad’s manoeuvring of our caravan knew no limits as he successfully navigated it around our garden and across the roads of the UK and France were no steep climb, sharp bend or clifflike drop by the side of the road would ever deter him in his determination to reach the destination. I simply do not have time to describe the delights and horrors of dad circling the Arc de Triumphe at least five times to ensure that all his children got a good view of this Parisian landmark… It certainly left the gendarme scratching their heads!


Dads’ early schooling involved him being dispatched to a boarding school at the tender age of seven and it was perhaps one of the few benefits of outbreak of World War 2 that meant he was brought back and went to Lancaster Grammar School.  He always retained a great interest in LGS and was grateful for the good education it gave to him, not least during his national service where it opened the door to lots of new adventures and experiences. 


Michael joined the army on 7th February 1946 and served in Italy first as an office clerk and then a regimental instructor. In his words, he had the “time of his life”. I have had the privilege of reading to dad’ his memoir of army life, The Khaki Journey, throughout the last 18 months. I now understand how he learnt not to mix his drinks, why he developed a huge dislike of macaroni and that he learnt to drive via an old wireless army truck in Italy on what he always considered to be “the wrong side of the road!”


Even in his late teens and early 20s dad had already formed a commitment to equality and liberty built on his strong Christian values - these were tested throughout his army life when, as a private rising to rank of sergeant, he learnt the diplomacy of dealing with others whose rank, rather than skill, tested his sense of duty.


Michael left the army on 5th July 1948, an auspicious day marking the first day of his demob and a move into a legal career but also, as he commented in the Khaki Journey, a day that marked the inauguration of one of the greatest Social Insurance Acts ever presented to the people of the British Isles… the day the NHS was born. How little did dad know then just how important a lady, dedicated to the medical profession, would become to him in the latter years of his life. I will of course come back to Mary shortly.


The 1950s saw dad not only qualify as a solicitor and take over his father’s law firm in St Annes but he also joined a unique local social group, pretentiously called The Utopians. This group, known to us simply as the Utopes, provided the perfect setting for romance and marriage among many members and provided lifelong friendships,  some of whom here today.


My mother Jean met dad through the Utopians and they married in 1956, welcoming their son Peter into the world the following year. However, the domination of the female Wren-Hilton clan soon commenced with the subsequent arrival of Sue and then ta few years later with the twin girls, Annie and Gill. Our childhood and indeed later years were framed by the love and care of our parents, with dad’s duties including taking charge of bath time, directing croquet practice in the garden and teaching us all the capital cities of the world!


When not working and supporting the family, dad busied himself with many groups such as the Roundtable, Rotary Club, (later to become the Past Rotarians) and, significantly, local, national and European politics. He also had a great love for his garden and no more so than his famous tomatoes -  he was a prolific tomato-grower in his greenhouse in the garden at Silver Birches, and he used to take family and visitors to inspect them, inviting his grandchildren to help water them too!  Another hobby was wine making - as some of you may remember, the product of this activity became an acquired taste and dad’s enthusiasm was never defeated by an unsuccessful vintage!


As a family we have all grown up to the traditions and well-known phrases of which Michael was renowned.  To him planning was akin to a “military exercise” and on most Saturday mornings he could be found polishing the family silver ,ahead of Sunday tea, whilst listening loudly to Gilbert and Sullivan or a brass band.


A great family tradition has always been Christmas Day. Even as young children we would be woken by dad’s cry off “he’s been he’s been!” and we would all help prepare for the festive feast. After dad’s toasting of La Chef (our mum) and the Duke of Lancaster (the Queen) we would tuck into our Christmas dinner, with dad always commenting that “this turkey did not die in vain!”. Following this he would usually fall into a deep sleep (a spectacle many of his friends witnessed after a dinner party) and he would then insist that we all stood up for the national anthem and the Queen’s speech at 3 pm.


One of Michael’s greatest delights was seeing the birth of his first grandchild Kate soon followed by Emma, Tom, Mike and Jacob. To each of them he became Bampa - their grandpa who would never cease to entertain and encourage them. A stand out memory from Tom is when Bampa,was walking around Fairhaven Lake with some of his grandchildren and nonchalantly went to the pull-up bars and started doing pullups...while in his late 70s! He really did know how to impress! Another Fairhaven Lake story is when the children were allowed to hire a boat under his supervision……..typical of him, their Bampa kept his cool despite the near misses of hitting islands or ducks and all the while he maintained his Wren-Hilton smile and waved at any on lookers!


All family celebrations would be marked by the opening and drinking of at least one bottle of champagne. We all grew to love the excitement of dad opening the bottle, sending the cork flying across the back garden and, with any luck,landing in the fishpond. It is a great comfort that dad was able to celebrate his grandson Michael’s wedding to Kate last month with a bottle of champagne and a slice of wedding cake…….he never lost that sweet tooth! 


Another well worn phrase used by dad was that “all good things must come to an end” and so, in 1993, he retired from his legal career but only in order to do what many appear to do in retirement… get even busier, including writing and publishing 2 novels!


After the untimely death of Jean in 2003, dad took it upon himself to accept every invitation given to him to join friends and family for a coffee or a meal as well as reacquainting himself with Fylde Rugby Club and the lounge bar at Royal Lytham Golf Club. 


He perhaps more profitably took the opportunity to get more involved  in St Joseph‘s RC Church. Dad’s faith was an important part of his life and through this he met Mary and, after wooing her, their courtship led to their happy wedding in this church in 2009. A lovely day that many attended.


A new chapter was opened up for dad and over the last 12 years he and Mary have had precious times together, none more so than on their many travels home and abroad. In particular they travelled to New Zealand on three extended holidays to visit Pete and Jackie, meeting their family and friends. 


Peter has shared a lovely memory from dad’s first trip out to New Zealand that included Peter meeting him ‘en route’ in Kuala Lumpur. Dad had obviously visited Lytham Library to learn more about Malaysia and its history. Unfortunately, we think he must read the 1950’s Malaysia Almanac. He arrived at the hotel wearing a khaki safari suit with matching hat and regalia as if he was about to enter the South East Asian jungle. The hotel staff stood still and emotionless as they saw Peter escort ‘Mr Livingstone’ rapidly across the main hotel reception to his room to change into something more suited for a modern and sophisticated city. 
 
In another New Zealand story, Michael’s desire to try something new never escaped him. On a visit to the North Island’s ski area, the promise of fish and chips at the top of the mountain was just too tempting and an adventure on a ski lift seemed a grand idea. Classic Dad - FOMO - a fear of missing out. Only when he got onto the ski lift and it left its base, did he realise that there was nothing between him and 1the ground far below…….he was always scared of heights!  Whilst the colour to his face finally returned when he was served the fish and chips, all future indulgences were confined to an excellent port side chip shop on the Strand in Tauranga, Peter’s hometown.
 
Over the years, Michael got to know and love his Kiwi family - this was fully shared by them and their memories are precious to us all.


In the very recent years dad’s deteriorating health has limited his excursions but this never prevented him from enjoying time with the family. Our last big gathering was to celebrate dad’s 90th birthday……like royalty it was extended over many days.


Over the last 18 months we have had the privilege and, on occasion, heartache in caring for dad at Silver Birches. However, during this time new friendships have been formed and I want to take this opportunity to thank Nigel, Anne, Simon, John, David and Andy from Home Comforts whose care, compassion and male companionship brought much into dad’s life and indeed his wider family. I also want to extend the family’s thanks to Dr Sloane, the district nurses and the Hospice at Home team who supported us in our care for dad in his last few days.


When dad died on 30th September he was surrounded by his family - he knew just how much he was loved by us and his many friends. Since then there have been many who have contacted us and we have been overwhelmed by the stories of dad’s kindness, smiles, hospitality and generosity that have touched so many people. He was and is in every sense a true gentleman.


I would like to thank Father David for the support and comfort that he gave to both dad and us in dad’s final days and for delivering Mass.  Finally, I would like to thank David Pope for the guidance and support provided to us all. 


As I conclude, I am reminded of words often used by dad when talking generously of others whom he admired. 


These were words that my sisters and I spoke gently to him on his last day with us - and I close i share these very heartfelt words with you all and once again address them to you dad:


“Good job, well done


Well done that man”