Michael May (5 Feb 1936 - 12 May 2023)

In loving memory of Michael May who sadly passed away on 12th May 2023, and in Michaels own words:

Michael, or Barry as he was known in his earlier days, started out in life after leaving school in 1951 as an apprentice at the then Tillman/Langley laboratories (an aircraft components factory in Redhill), where he served a 6 yr 'sentence' (as he called it) before being 'called up' for national service to do another 2 yr 'sentence'.
Once 'out', he returned to civilian life and took up. work with MSE (a company in Crawley) as a draughtsman - a job not necessarily to his liking, but fortunately a technical illustrator 'position' came up which suited him more and from which he carved out a career, where he worked for many years in the oil/gas industry and any other companies that might require such services.
During that time, Michael married and Paul, Simon and Emma were born.

Outside of the work and home scenario, Barry enjoyed the 'sporting' life with football and cricket for the local village (Smallfield), and any others that were desperate for his skills. Then, as the years marched by and the legs got even slower, Barry called it a day - it wasn't long before another 'bug' kicked in again, and this time he decided to try his hand (or really his feet!) at running, with various degrees of disasters starting with the ignomy of defeat by his sister Angela in a 6 mile run at Lingfield (Then, to add salt to the wound - being pipped at the post by a pantomime horse!). Not to be deterred, he carried on for another 20 yrs, success was an unknown factor to him, as he usually described himself as 'Tail End Charlie' and 'I'll turn the lights out'.

His last job before he retired at 67 was near to Gatwick, where the company had a 6 a side football pitch, and yes....thats right, he could still be seen 'staggering' around trying to keep up with the younger element. Later, the company organised a 6 aside league and Barry combined managing one of the sides with using his dormant tech. Publishing skills to produce a monthly magazine of match reports, stats and league tables.
On top of this, he still managed to train the ladies football team twice a week, and then when he had time, there was still that irksome task of 'work' to be done

Once retirement beckoned, Barry resorted to taking up golf with equally disastrous results (definitely not a 'hole in one' exponent!), and also back to his favourite hobby of writing, were be it a column in the local paper 'berating' the state of Crawley town FC, or in similar vein on local news topics, where his idea was to put forward his point of view, but laced with a more humorous approach.

The last few years, so many lost count, acted as a reporter for the local football team Crawley Down Gatwick, plus a further 10 years(once a week) doing or trying to keep up with the younger element in circuit training.

Michael leaves behind his three children (Paul, Simon and Emma) and five Grandchildren (Liam, Josh, Megan, Caitlin and Zack)

Michaels funeral will be held at the Surrey and Sussex crematorium on the 31st May 2023 at 11.15am with the wake to be held at the Parsons Pig thereafter