Michael Taylor (23 Sep 1939 - 16 Dec 2016)

Michael Taylor was born on 23 September 1939, the son of Albert and Peggy Fisher. He was followed by his sister, Mary, in October 1940.

After their father's death when Michael was aged seven, he and Mary were adopted by their grandparents, George and Jessie Taylor.

He and Mary cared for their grandmother in her old age. Michael was also a proud uncle to his only nephew and namesake, Michael Taylor.

He attended Model Village School in Shirebrook followed by Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School in Mansfield. He went to work at Warsop Colliery at the age of 15, eventually becoming Senior Overman. After the colliery closed in 1939, he worked as a delivery driver delivering newspapers including the Mansfield Chad and the Derbyshire Times to shops until his retirement at the age of 70 in 2009.

He married Ann Riley on 19 February 1979 at Chesterfield Register Office after days of snow. The two had known each other since they were children and had lived on adjacent streets. They had their only son, James, on 20 November 1984.

Michael was a family man, who enjoyed nothing more than being with his family. Together they enjoyed holidays to Blackpool and Jersey and for several years had a holiday home at Mablethorpe in Lincolnshire.

As a former miner, Michael was for more than 20 years a trustee at Shirebrook Miners' Welfare. He spent many happy evenings in the Welfare with his friend, Sam Wilson, whom he worked with for many years. He also served for three years as churchwarden of Holy Trinity Church, Shirebrook.

He had a keen interest in railways having been a keen trainspotter as a young man. He and James would visit heritage railways including the Midland Railway at Butterley, the Great Central Railway in Loughborough as well as the Crich Tramway Village.

He also enjoyed watching television with the family; particularly programmes including: MasterChef, Dragons' Den, the Great British Bake Off and the Apprentice. He would also watch or listen to James's regular appearances on local television and radio.

He was a devoted carer for Ann during her illness from April 2016. He was diagnosed with cancer of unknown primary shortly before his 77th birthday in September 2016 and died in the Grange Nursing Home in Shirebrook on 16 December 2016.