Sport
Currently the The British Paralympic Association Honorary Vice President, Mike’s passion for sport over the last 50 years has seen him take part in more than 50 different sports, ranging from surfing to sailing and skiing to cricket.
His many sporting achievements include completing two London Marathons, two ski marathons and the 125-mile Devizes to Westminster Canoe Marathon.
He represented Great Britain at cross-country skiing in the first Winter Paralympic Games in 1976, and at three World Championships, six Paralympic Games and two European Championships.
He managed the GB cross-country ski team from 1988 to 1994, was Chef de Mission of the GB team at the 1998 Winter Paralympics in Nagano, Japan and was Head of Delegation at all of the Paralympic Games from 2002 to 2008 including the Games in Beijing which saw the most successful GB team ever.
Mike also managed successful athletics teams at European and World Championships, and was the manager of the first England blind cricket team to take part in the inaugural World Cup in India.
He was awarded an OBE in 2005 for services to sport and a CBE in 2009, also for services to sport.
Representing Sport
Mike has served on a number of sporting committees and Boards:
- In 1973 he set up the Metro Sports Club for the Visually Impaired.
- In 1974 he set up the British Ski Club for the Disabled
- In 1976 he set up British Blind Sport
Sporting Challenges
In 1983 he undertook his most challenging sporting activity, by attempting to complete 3 marathons in 3 sports in 30 days.
The first was the Engadin Ski Marathon in Switzerland, covering a distance of 42 kilometres. The second was the gruelling Devizes to Westminster Canoe Marathon over a distance of 125 Miles, The third was the London Marathon over 42 kilometres in April 1983!