MIKE Winter, a long-time resident of Sandford, died at his home after a long battle with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. He was 67.

He was born in Islington, London, and at his funeral, held in Sandford Congregational Church, an old friend Bob McCormick gave a resume of his life and said he had met Mike, when Mike was a Leading Aircraftman in the Royal Air Force when they were both serving at RAF Wattersham.

He said that later Mike met his wife Marilyn who was a student midwife and they were later married at Bristol in 1978. They had three children, Sarah,Fiona and Daniel.

Mike was a man of many talents, not least, his engineering and electronic skills, and in 1981 the family moved to South Africa, where he worked for Siemens, in their electronics department.

He then moved to a South African Outside Broadcasting Company, travelling in the broadcasting vehicles to maintain their electronics, a job he had done previously in the UK. He saw a lot of South Africa, and was there to cover many sporting events.

The family returned to the UK in 1986, and moved to Lapford, where Mike had a small art gallery in South Molton and a printing service, The Scribe.

In 1993 the family moved to Sandford, where Mike ran his painting, decorating and general maintenance business, which included straw chopping.

He also did much of the scenery and backstage work for the early pantomimes held in the Parish Hall.

He was a member of the Sandford Congregational Church and supported the church in many ways, including doing posters etc and bookings for the Church Hall.

He was a very friendly man, who was always happy to help anyone and stop for a chat. His funeral service was taken by the Rev Jill Stephens, who paid tribute to Mike saying “he was a man of many talents, and a very proud and loving family man.”

He leaves his wife, Marilyn, daughters Sarah and Fiona, son Daniel, son Mickey from his first marriage, son-in-law Jamie and three grandchildren.

Donations at the service were in aid of the British Lung Foundation. Mike’s cheerful presence will be greatly missed in Sandford.

Margaret Tucker