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Wonderful to hear Mick read these - can't tell you how much I'm going to miss him.

A few words to add to the Colpitts tributes to Mick:

In my Colpitts era, over ten years ago now, when Mick,

Jackie and Michael were the key Colpitteers, we seemed to

bask in the genial atmosphere of Mick's character. He

combined humour, grace and financial acumen, balancing

books which would otherwise have certainly toppled. I see

him, poetry book in one hand, cheque book in the other,

holding it all, perhaps us all, together... Colpitts

contributed hugely to so many things I have done since and

still does. I raise a glass of red to the memory of Mick.

Harriet Tarlo

i will always be grateful to mick for the support he gave me, particularly with international cultural exchanges.

we shared many wonderful times in places like tuebingen, freudenstadt, groningen

and amsterdam.

i will miss him greatly but the memories will remain wonderful.

We four had a lovely meal at Pam's about 2 weeks ago. He was lively and we talked and drank and celebrated.

Michael was my poetic mentor and friend.

Pam and I are glad that we can still remember him as a vibrant, cultured and sensitive man who would grace our memories for a long time.

Be at peace, Michael, wherever you have gone.

Pam & Asit

Mick and I had some great times. I'll miss those all-night conversations we had in the kitchen when i'd be in my element listening and enjoying his take on life, humour , encouragement and caring.He was special. A real marra..

I was so sorry to hear of Mick's death - he was a special man - as Jo Colley said in her poem about him, a mensch.

I tried to capture him through my camera lens - I always knew I wouldn't quite do it. He was of course beyond capture.

I knew MIck only distantly, a genial, thoughtful presence encountered at readings....Feel sad that this is the first time I have heard these poems.What I have missed. "How beautifully trees keep their distance...The darkening skies confirm it."

Mick was like a father to us both and a grandfather to Manon and Mikey. He was a wonderful, gentle, lovely man and every time we saw him we felt as if we had really come home. Words can not say how much he will be missed.

Mikey thinks he is on a motorbike now.

I’ve known Mick since I was a little girl; he’s been like a dad to me. He used to take my brother and I along with his own kids on fantastic magical mystery trips showing us the wonders of the north east. He was a warm, gentle, generous man. He made you feel important and cared for. I loved him and I will miss him very much.

We are all saddened to learn of Mick's death. We were honoured to have Mick on our Board of Trustees from 1999 to 2004 and his timely and intelligent contributions were always gratefully received. It was a pleasure to work with Mick and, having maintained regular contact with him since, will miss him greatly.

FROM ANN ALEXANDER

As the other messages have all said, Mick was a wonderful, witty man, who was always interested in what you had to say. I don't know how he rememered all about people, but he did. He used to say various people were 'a good thing'. I'll not be able to tell him about the wedding I went to, or meet him in Durham during Folkworks week.

Literature in the WEA will never be the same again.

Goodbye Mick.

Thanks for all the good stuff, your candour and your humour.

We're toasting you with a glass or two of Chilean Merlot.

Love to Val, Louis and Guy.

Jo and Cherri

A fine man, seeing the video reminds of the great talks in that kitchen and how the whole family made me feel like I was at home. All the best!- chris

Hi Mick, I remember looking forward to your visits at home in Nottingham. Always interesting, fun and inclusive of all! Long full dinners and nights. Great company.

We shall toast you. Cheers. jazz

What can I say, other than we will miss him terribly.

Dear Val,

We are so sorry for your loss. It was a great privilege to have known Michael and we will miss him.

We are thinking of you at this time and hope to see you very soon.

Best Wishes Val and Best Regards to your sons who we hope to meet in the future.

I am sorry to hear the news about Michael. I never had the chance to meet him but I would like to pass on condolences from the network of former pupils of BHCHS.

Kind regards

Graham

How I had meant to say thank you to Michael for Other Poetry, and for all the support given so generously to other poets. And how I was going to do it later when I had a bit more time. And so -

my gratitude.

I last saw Michael in March at the Incwriters Event in Manchester. He was, as always, a gentleman, a mountain of knowledge and a great poet. He will be sadly missed.

We just want to say what a lovely man Mick was and how much we appreciated his support. We will miss him sorely.

I first met Micahel at the event Andrew refers to, in manchester. i was impressed by his energy and that he had travelled so far that day to attend - and planned to return home the same night! I hope I shall be as committed and active in retirement as Michael.

PS I love the ferret poem.

I met Michael just once - recently reading at a church in Camden. Other Poetry has published my work over the years and I was pleased to be in Miracles and Clockwork. (a few days ago my publisher asked him to write a testimonial for a forthcoming collection of mine). I can only give an impression: pleasant, likeable and - the main word -genuine. I do feel saddened. Sincerely.

Like others, I last saw Michael at the incwriters event in Manchester where I chaired a panel on the importance of magazines to contemporary poetry. Michael was there, of course, and made a very valuable contributuion to the discussion. He published my work in OTHER POETRY and, when he didn't publish it, always took the time to tell me why. I know he was a great encouragement to poet's trying to get their work into print for the first time. We corresponded over the years and met on a few occassions when i found him consistently genuine, selfless and charming. He'll be missed as an editor - and as a poet.

I didn't know Michael but I wish I had. This web-site is a fitting testimony to his memory.

I was lucky enough to know Mick. He was a most generous man, his wit, charm and love were infectious. He was a great role model and even though I had not seen him in around 20 years his spirit will always be there for me. A true socialist, something to aspire to

It was a joy to read with Mick in Carlisle last year just after the publication of his wonderful Leaves at Midnight. I'll really miss his 'presence from a distance'.

I never did get to meet Michael. but over the years he was some sort of mentor- encouraging hundreds (I'm sure) in addition to me.

Michael, 'Friend of Poets & Servant to the Muse' Thats how I'll think of him. Mike Bannister

I met Michael when I moved to North Yorkshire in 1990 - he was kind, funny and encouraging. Without him I would not have submitted my first book to Flambard. I know he will be hugely missed.

I met Mick and, later Val, when I took my daughter, Hilary to Durham as an exchange student from UCLA in California. Mick was generous to both of us, I as a poet, and Hilary, as a confused stranger. He even offered to set up an appesrsnce for Hilary's actress mother. I have always been ashamed of their ignoring his generosity and never quite got around to any further contact as a result when I left Durham. I was too embarrassed by their conduct to correspond with him further. But I saw enough of Mick during those few days in Durham to see a man of great integrity who cared so much for others.

I met Mick and, later Val, when I took my daughter, Hilary to Durham as an exchange student from UCLA in California. Mick was generous to both of us, I as a poet, and Hilary, as a confused stranger. He even offered to set up an appesrsnce for Hilary's actress mother. I have always been ashamed of their ignoring his generosity and never quite got around to any further contact as a result when I left Durham. I was too embarrassed by their conduct to correspond with him further. But I saw enough of Mick during those few days in Durham to see a man of great integrity who cared so much for others.