MickBATESHathern boy and former Liberal Democrat Welsh Assembly Member for Montgomeryshire, Mick Bates, has died aged 74 after a battle with cancer. Mick was born in September 1947 in Dovecote Cottage, Hathern to George and Lil Bates. George himself was well known locally as a cricket umpire and coach. After completing his secondary education at Loughborough College Mick trained as a teacher in Worcester, and among his various appointments was one as a science teacher at Humphrey Perkins school, Barrow-upon-Soar. Whilst at Worcester he met his wife to be, Buddug, and in 1977 he began a new life as a farmer at Buddug's family farm near Welshpool, Powys. He soon began to campaign on behalf of agricultural and rural communities, and among other appointments he was chair of his local NFU branch. In the 1990s Mick became involved in local politics as a Liberal Democrat, and in 1999 he was elected as Welsh Assembly Member (AM) for Montgomeryshire. Mick was a tireless campaigner for sustainability, community regeneration and environmental protection. Among his many achievements were securing free school milk for KS1 children, and writing a Biomass strategy to provide hot water for the local school and homes in Llanwyddyn. Mick stepped down as an AM in 2010 and devoted his time to family affairs, especially helping his son Daniel to take the reins of the farm. Mick never lost touch with his roots and was a regular visitor to the Loughborough area seeing family and old friends, and to Hathern where his Mum, Dad, brother and sister are buried. Aside from his achievements Mick was a kind, generous and big-hearted family man whose hospitality was legendary. He will be sorely missed. He is survived by his wife, Buddug, his children Daniel and Ruth, his five grandchildren and brother Doug.
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