Michael was an incredible force of nature. A multi talented actor and poet and writer who dreamed of ‘making the big time’ in the creative arts. A pure and honest and kind hearted gentle giant of a man who put himself ‘out there’ on the streets in all weathers at the mercy of the general public and with whom I spent the most precious time, following him and filming him over approx. three years in his struggle to become the World Champion Town Crier, a title he achieved and which I captured on film in 2003. He never gave up and the footage I have is the most incredibly entertaining, iconic and historic imaginable, including the cowboy film I produced with Michael as 'Black Bart', filmed over six weeks on the old docks in Hull. So many wonderful memories. I remember on one occasion, as Michael was working on a business gig midweek, walking through a market in Lincoln dressed in his Town Crier regalia and ringing his bell, a sprinting youth ran past him and knocked off his tricorn hat. I can see Michael’s face as he about turned scowling and accused me, as I stood camera in hand, of setting it up…except I was changing the camera film at the time and it was one of the few shots I failed to capture…much to Michael’s relief.
We also worked together as 'Father Christmas' in Harrods in London over a two year period.
Halcyon days each and every one.
Oh, and about ‘making the big time’…he absolutely did and the proof is in the pudding.
“Oyez, Oyez, Oyez”
Keep ringing your bell Michael. You achieved more than you could ever imagine. God bless you and my deepest condolences to Margaret and family. Glenn D. Webster. London.
Glenn D. Webster
22/07/2026
