All entries for Wednesday 07 March 2007

Mike Smith, Craftsman, Metal Spinner, R.I.P.

Writing about web page http://www.skillspin.co.uk

One of the best things about working for WMCCM is getting out and meeting owners, managers and many skilled and interesting people.

The project’s best assistances have been, not surprisingly, where we have built up a close working relationship with our company contact. Mike Smith has been one of those.

I was introduced to Mike by Iain Robertson of MAS-WM three years ago. Mike’s business Skillspin had lost their biggest customer as a result of changes at Laura Ashley’s furnishing business. With some excellent pictures of his work we were able to help him straightaway with a catalogue. The combination of words and pictures were so effective Skillspin became an early case study for the marketplace.

I continued the assistance by setting up an easily modified web-site and our team got to know Mike better as he attended events and spoke at one. Mike introduced me to Tony Ashford and Peter Davies, friends with small businesses in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter and so I have found it easy to keep in touch.

In recent months Skillspin’s business has been picking up some excellent new business from the web. He was also battling on another front with cancer and chemotherapy treatments. A battle he recently, sadly, lost. This came as a shock to our team, many of whom remember Mike as “a really nice guy”. Dr. Mark Swift and our director Dr. Jay Bal both expressed their deep sadness as they remembered Mike from some fine times.

Mike’s business will probably be run to an orderly close meeting outstanding obligations. Just another craftsman, metal spinning, business to fold in the West Midlands? Sadly probably true.

I did get to learn something of another side of Mike’s life, his family. Married to Bridget with four daughters, two have grown up to become pharmacists. I know more about the youngest, as she is the same age as my son John. She is another academic high flyer, a talented musician and choral singer and at the last I heard considering reading Mathematics here at the University of Warwick. A NAGTY kid she will not need any more orienteering tours of this campus!

Mike has left us too early. He lived life with a smile on his face and often a cigarette in his hand. He has left behind a family that Bridget and he were very proud of and he lived to see the next generation of grandchildren set off. Mike and family are Catholics and I am sure that his family will be supported by their wider Church family at this difficult time for them. There will be prayers said for them at St. James’, Whitley and in other places around Birmingham I am sure.

Robert McGonigle : 07 Mar 2007 12:51 |  Tags: Memorium Mike Smith |  Comments (7) |  Close comments |  Report a problem