S 1959 - 1964
Word has reached us of the sad news that Michael Graham passed away on 1st March 2020. He was aged 74. Our thoughts and best wishes go to his family and those who knew him well.
A tribute by fellow OW Michael Sibley (J S 1944 – 1951):
I should like to put on record my tribute to the memory of my colleague and friend Mike Graham.
We were both educated at Wycliffe, lived in Springfield House, knew W A Sibly, but because of our age difference never met until 1984. Mike was then Sales Director of Herga Electric here in Bury St Edmunds, and I joined that year as Engineering Manager.
Mike was highly respected throughout the company and was destined to be Managing Director in due course.
However at the young age of about 40 in 1987 he was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease and was forced to retire. He told me that he was given five years to live. This must have been doubly hard to take for during his time at Cambridge he was selected to row in the Boat Race in 1966. He was invited to row again the following year but declined because training would interfere with his engineering studies.
Mike was the most delightful company, though given this diagnosis he made the most of his time, ran a wine tasting group and maintained his circle of friends supported by his doctor wife Heather and two daughters. Astonishingly Mike survived a further 33 years after his diagnosis. I maintained my friendship with him long after our work association ended and some years ago he and Heather moved to Christchurch to be closer to his daughters. I last heard from him last Christmas when he had been moved to a nursing home.
Mike bore his incapacity with astonishing good grace and patience even when latterly confined to a wheelchair during his later years. I was fond of Mike and was proud to call him my friend.
Sincerely,
Michael Sibley
