MIKE Boston was born and bred in Exeter, and was proud of being an Exonian! He was the eldest of seven children, having two sisters and four brothers.

He completed his education at Heles Grammar School for Boys (now St Peter’s) before becoming an industrial apprentice with Plessey, alternating between attending College in East London and working at their Swindon Factory.

Mike studied computer science and in the early 70s he moved to Leicester to upgrade his qualifications with a “graduate professional endorsement”.

This equipped Mike to complete a year’s teacher training in London before taking up his first teaching post in secondary education in a school in Norwich.

From Norwich Mike moved back to Devon in 1975, living first in Morchard Bishop, whilst teaching at South Molton, and then to live in Exeter, to teach at Priory High School. It was whilst living in Exeter that Mike met Eddie Sinclair, with whom he had two daughters, Miryam and Nina and he later married Eddie in (1995).

It was Morris Dancing which first brought Mike and Eddie together, and the many dance traditions they both enjoyed, remained a binding feature in their marriage.

His final job in teaching was at Marjon University, Plymouth, where he lectured in the IT department.

The family moved to Crediton in the 1980s where they lived, and have remained, and it was here that Eddie sadly died due to a brain tumour in 2020.

Mike’s small stature was perfectly balanced by his huge personality, crowned by humour and a caring nature.

His zest for life, unbounded energy and extrovert “extra-curricular” activities made him a popular and easily recognisable figure, memorable for all who encountered him.

He was a Morris Dancer, Rapper Dancer (bendy swords), actor in Mummers Plays and iconic “resident” Fool with the Great Western Morris Dancers for more than 45 years; a born performer, as demonstrated by his many appearances in plays performed by Crediton Arts Centre and the Brown Paper Bag Theatre Co.; and Caller for Mrs Midnights Ceilidh Band, playing regularly at Sidmouth Folk Festival, and other venues across the county.

Not content with the above, and in his remaining spare time (!), Mike was license holder and ran the Crediton Arts Centre Bar, and the Blackmoor Gardens Bar during the Sidmouth Folk Festivals; he was a keen member of the RSPB Aylesbeare Volunteer Group, trying to improve his knowledge about what he described as “those little brown feathery things”.

He was also a Volunteer Driver for the RD and E Hospital, helping people with mobility problems to attend outpatient appointments.

Then, of course, there was Exeter Chiefs Rugby, where Mike’s presence in the East Stand “Library” will be very much missed by his fellow supporters, and of course the referees, who he was never shy of shouting advice to!

Mike died in Hospital on December 9 from a sudden pulmonary embolism. There has been no date set for his funeral at this time due to the ongoing risks of Covid.

Mike was a dynamic, larger than life character and leaves a huge gap in the lives of his daughters, family and friends.

A Just Giving page has been set up in Mike’s memory in aid of The Brain Tumour Charity.

To donate, visit: justgiving.com/mikeboston .