What about Mick ?

[Lee Drury]

Been speaking to some of Micks old friends and most agree that plan A was the best course to take.
Meet up at mine or at the funeral, say goodbye to Mick, go to the local pub after and try to arrange some kind of memorial gig for Mick and Betty to come at a later date.
Terry suggested a concert after the funeral at the BH2 but we dont know who is going to come along and who exactly wants to be involved.
Maybe people can still go there afterwards if they want to, but we feel that a gig on the day is too soon.
Its all up in the air and if we are to do something, it should be done properly.
See you all on the day, whenever it may be.
Lee.

[TerryMurphy]

okay Lee,it will save rushing it,it can be planned ,lets hope all the old Freinds turn up,its entirely up to you to decide,but it should be at the new Bridge house,Tony has been very helpfull with what i thought was plan A.But seems was plan B,any news on possible dates for burial,T.M

[lamf]

Hi Everyone,

Just off the phone to Betty.  She went to the undertakers today and the funeral has been arranged for Friday 31st October at 11.00am at The East London Cemetery & Crematorium 230A Grange Road, Plaistow, London, E13 0HB.
Telephone: 020 7476 5109.

At this stage I understand Betty's wishes are for those attending to take up Lee's kind invitation at meet at his place beforehand except for a couple of us who will meet at her house at 10:30. Then off to the crematorium for the service at 11:00 sharp.

Those wishing to see Mick beforehand can visit the undertakers T Cribb, 154-156 Barking Road, Canning Town, London E16 4HB.  Telephone: 020 7476 1855 on Wednesday 29th October between 2pm and 5pm. I think I'll go about 2-3 ish

I think it's too short notice for a gig but Lee's idea of a local pub after seems best.  I definately want us all to get our heads together to arrange a benefit gig for Mick and Betty, so lets get talking and arranging asap,The obvious venue being BH2.

I'll put a post on myspace and a few other related sites in the next day or two with internet links and maps etc if i can get them to work.  Right now it's sinking in a bit deeper so i'll sign off for now.

tom

   

[Lee Drury]

To all who may be coming to say goodbye to Mick.
Terry has suggested that we can go back to the BH2 after the funeral. It is only round the corner from the crematorium and if this is ok with everyone else it will be a nice place to go back to. If Terry can confirm this, or if there are any objections then please let us know asap.
Lee.

[TerryMurphy]

yes Lee ,Tony Nicholls at Bridge house 2 Has agrreed to have the reception there on Friday 31st October after the funeral at the east london cemetry.in Grange rd E16,i have posted details on News and Info on Front page T.M

[Jeff]

Just got back from the funeral.
It was a lovely sunny day here in the East End and despite the early hour there was a really good turnout for Micks final gig. It was truly wonderful to see all the old faces that turned up, everyone still looked beautiful.

Many thanks to Tom who read out a fitting tribute, not many of us could have got through that without choking.
Micks mum Betty was a star, i hope she takes some comfort and joy from those that spoke with her.
The music as always was great, even the preacher got into the vibe.

Thanks to Terry and the two T's for the use of the Bridgehouse 2, the location brought back some special memories.

So nice to see you all again, i hope we can catch up again happier circumstances. (Maybe at Tims gig in Nov?)

Mick will never be forgotten, as a muso he is lucky enough to have left a part of his soul behind for all to enjoy.

Mick, rock-on in peace.

lov,
Jeff

[Lee Drury]

Micks funeral was a sad and a happy day. He was carried in by fellow band members from over the years including Steve Pear, Tom Phobic, Paul Romane and myself. There was plenty of good music and lots of old friends from way back. Toms speech was touching, Betty was very brave.
Just as we were thinking about leaving the BH2 after a very nice reception Bettys walking stick went flying off the back of the chair and a banner came down from the wall and completely covered the food.
Betty said that Mick is here and is telling us that its time to go!
A day of mixed emotions.
R.I.P. Mick.
Yvonne & Lee

[lamf]

Micks funeral was a sad and a happy day. He was carried in by fellow band members from over the years including Steve Pear, Tom Phobic, Paul Romane and myself. There was plenty of good music and lots of old friends from way back. Toms speech was touching, Betty was very brave.
Just as we were thinking about leaving the BH2 after a very nice reception Bettys walking stick went flying off the back of the chair and a banner came down from the wall and completely covered the food.
Betty said that Mick is here and is telling us that its time to go!
A day of mixed emotions.
R.I.P. Mick.
Yvonne & Lee

Mixed emotions sums it up Lee,

I think it was probably the most touching funeral I have ever attended, and I would like to thank Paul Romane for suggesting we help carry Mick on his final journey, along with Lee and Steve.  I think those few steps gave me the focus and the strength to get through the speech without caving in.

The service was absolutely spot on, and I hope Betty, who was indeed very brave, gained comfort and strength from the love and affection shown by all assembled for Mick. Outside, the weather was dry, crisp and sunny, There were two guitar shaped wreaths and a host of floral tributes, Betty's "SON" in white flowers being the one that brought it home even more.

Thanks are due to Terry, Trevor and staff at the Bridgehouse 2 for putting on a nice spread at the reception afterwards, and to every one of you who I had the pleasure of talking to and sharing memories of Mick.

In answer to a few questions, the songs during the service were

You can't put your arms around a memory - Johnny Thunders

Sacred Heart - The Famous Monsters

Cosmic Dancer - T Rex

Michael Picasso - Ian Hunter


For those who missed the speech/euology, Betty is happy for me post it here which I'll do in the next day or two.

Cheers,  Tom Crossley (Tom Phobic/LAMF)

[TerryMurphy]

good to meet you Tom,thanks fot the music lists.and i would like to read your speech,i missed some of it,being a little late,also very nice of you to make the donation for drinks at The Bridge house 2, after Micks Funeral.
yes i was pleased with the reception Tony Nichollls laid out for us,a nice variety of food,.And he made us very welcome,also showing on the big screen Wasted Youths DVD, Betty seemed to  enjoy seeeing her son Mick in the Jealousy video,so did I,keep in touch Tom Regards Terry M

[lamf]

good to meet you Tom,thanks fot the music lists.and i would like to read your speech,i missed some of it,being a little late,also very nice of you to make the donation for drinks at The Bridge house 2, after Micks Funeral.
yes i was pleased with the reception Tony Nichollls laid out for us,a nice variety of food,.And he made us very welcome,also showing on the big screen Wasted Youths DVD, Betty seemed to  enjoy seeeing her son Mick in the Jealousy video,so did I,keep in touch Tom Regards Terry M

Hi everyone,

As promised here's the draft of the speech I did for Mick.  It's not verbatim but pretty close. the next step is to sort this gig out -  lets do it!

I would just like to say what an honour it was to be asked by Betty, Mick’s Mum to say a few words about Mick.  I hope I do him justice and please bear with me if I can’t get through this.

We are here today to pay our respects  to a dear friend and a fellow band member; In the case of Betty a first born loving Son and, and for Robert, a brother who will be sadly missed.

What we all have in common is that we were lucky enough for Mick to touch our lives in some way. Mick was one of the nicest people I ever met - gentle, considerate, funny, sweet, kind hearted and, as someone said recently when I asked what to say today, someone who would always see you right.

His love and passion for music started early , in more innocent days when boys would dream of being a pop star or a footballer as an alternative to doing a proper job. now days being a musician is a respectable career choice - back then you were considered to be a threat to the moral fibre of the country and society in general.

They say youth is wasted on the young but speaking to Betty recently she said it was clear that Wasted Youth, Mick’s first band didn’t waste it, they had a lot of fun and a great time having it.

I first came across Mick after he had left Wasted Youth,  I heard a song called fools rush in where angels fear to tread, and was knocked out by his unique guitar sound. 

Like birds of a feather do, I managed to meet Mick and  we got on like a house on fire, spending hours chatting ‘till stupid o clock about music, which, as most of you here know, he could talk about until the cows come home!

It wasn’t  just talk, he had a phd  in rock n roll. he seemed to know every minute detail it was his passion and never went away.

in October Revolution Mick stood out from the crowd, with his Johnny Thunders haircut and a style of his own, and later I was lucky enough to Join The Famous Monsters with Mick Gio and Bill who will doubtless be jamming together shortly in the afterlife.

We rehearsed a lot round Micks house, where Betty would stick her head through to door or the serving hatch to see how we were doing and instead of telling us to turn it down would  encourage us or stay for a sneaky listen.

One thing I will say about Mick is he played the guitar so loud it’s probably  responsible for my tinnitus.  Still he did it with panache and was always making us laugh with his wicked sense of humour.

We all know Mick had his demons like his heroes often did and suffered greatly for his sins. He wasn’t perfect but he was a perfectionist as anyone waiting for him to tune his guitar knows only too well.

Betty was always there to help him and support him with the kind of unconditional love and devotion a mother has for her son, she never turned her back on him, and often went without herself. Mick reciprocated, he was a true mothers son and  loved his mum to bits.

Both Betty and Mick suffered ill health of late and still did their best to look after each other, and recently, I was so pleased to hear his voice on the phone bursting with enthusiasm and full of positive plans, the guitar was back out and  Mick was itching to get back into music and in his words sort things out for me mum.

We have all suffered loss and sadness over the years but upon hearing the news of Micks passing I think it hit me the hardest, as he seemed so full of life.

Rest in peace mate safe in the knowledge that your Mum, brother and mates old and new are thinking of you smiling down on us, probably uttering one of your trademark sayings - "it’s all part of growing up".

Mick Atkins - to know him is to love him and we do.

Tom Crossley

[TerryMurphy]

Thank you a beautifull touching speach,As i read ,i am along in my office,and can reflect on the meanings of the notes,Love and Freindship pours out of it.It make me wish i had got to know him better,he was allways the first to say thank you when i credited him,be it for his playing or writing,Cheerio Mick ,see you Up there.Well done Tom,Terry M

[RLA]

Only just heard.

Rest in peace Mick

[carl]

I saw Mick about a month before his death he was coming out of the church at the Boylen. R.I.P Mick