Michael Garwood - Obituary

Michael Garwood (BGS 1944-50)

Michael, of West Wickham, Kent passed away at the Princess Royal University Hospital, Orpington on the morning of Thursday, 17 October 2013. There was a private family cremation.

A memorial and celebration event for his friends and wider family was held on Friday, 7 February 2014 in the Church and Richmond Hall at Emmanuel United Reform Church, West Wickham, Kent.

Michael greatly appreciated a tour of Boston Grammar School which was laid on for him and his daughter on his 70th birthday (by Tony Austin, we believe).

He was born on 20 July 1934 at Station Cottage, New Bolingbroke where his father was a railway porter/signalman. When Michael was one year old his father's job moved the family to Boston. Having moved again to Wyberton in 1938, he started school at St Thomas'. He was accepted into BGS in 1944.

On leaving school he applied to join the police force but was found to be one inch shorter than the minimum height requirement. His first job was a junior clerk at Harrison and Lewin. Following National Service in the RAF, Michael returned to the softwood trade, where he remained until early retirement at 55, having been a director of a public company for ten years.

A keen philatelist, Michael was member of the Papuan Philatelic Society for over 40 years. At different times he held almost all officer positions including world president, secretary and Hon. Treasurer. He wrote two Postal History handbooks 1945 to 2000.He was also a member of the London Softwood Club, an organisation for anyone connected with the UK softwood timber trade, of which he had been Hon. Secretary.

Michael leaves a daughter, Jeannette, and a son, David, his wife Betty having passed away in September 2003 following a stroke in 2001.