THOMAS MICHAEL HICKMORE

 

1933 to 2000

 
 

Michael Hickmore, the second of three successive generations of the Hickmore family to be educated at Westminster, entered Ashburnham in 1947 when it was still combined with Homeboarders (later Wren’s) as Homeburnham. Here he made a number of lifelong friendships and he was to remain a regular supporter of Old Westminster and in particular Old Ashburnham activities.

 

In 1951 he went on to the London School of Printing in preparation for entering the family printing business (the Signal Press) which, in due course he was to run successfully for many years until his retirement in 1994. He married his wife Eileen in 1957 and their two sons, Peter and Stephen, followed him up Ashburnham in the 1970’s.

 

Although a modest man with no personal political ambitions Michael was, throughout his life, a loyal supporter of his local Conservative Party and the quality of his service was recognised in his becoming Constituency Chairman of the Bromley branch and subsequently following boundary reorganisation President of the Bromley and Chislehurst Conservative Party.

 

In an active retirement he and his wife did a good deal of travelling but time was also devoted to studying the history of London, the National Trust (in which he became Vice-Chairman of the Bromley branch) and, by no means least, following the fortunes of the Kent County Cricket Club, of which he was for many years a very keen member.

 

A public-spirited, compassionate and friendly man, Michael was as ready to make time to visit a mentally ill patient in hospital, as he was to spend long hours canvassing for others in some unpromising part of London. His sudden death from heart failure came as a considerable blow to many as was demonstrated by the very large number of mourners at his funeral.

 

Tim Robinson.

 
 

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