We are very sad to inform members that our recently retired treasurer, co-founder Mike Reid, died on Thursday 19th May at his home in West Sussex. Although he had been ill for several years, the news came as a shock for IWI Council and many of our earlier members who knew him since the earliest tours organised by founder Ron Oakley. Mike died peacefully, surrounded by family and loved-ones. Tributes came from near and far, as Mike was widely appreciated and admired as a central builder in our organisation.
For former president Tom Grasso, Mike ‘was a very fine gentleman indeed and will be missed by all who knew him’. Also expressing his gratitude, president Dave Ballinger said he enjoyed working with Mike over the years : ‘he certainly helped keep me out of trouble as President; his interest in the well-being of IWI was always there and for me much appreciated’.
Secretary Dave MacDougall remarked that ‘Mike will be missed by all of us in IWI with whom he crossed paths; to me Mike was always the steady hand on the tiller to whom we could look to for sage advice.’
Norman Smith and David Edwards-May attended the funeral service in Lower Beeding, West Sussex, on May 31st. The committal and cremation took place June 1st in Worthing. IWI has made a donation in memory of Mike, in aid of St Catherine’s Hospice and Lower Beeding Church. Our sincere condolences to Mike’s wife Caroline, and all his family.
