Mike Dickinson - A celebration of life 26 Mar

MIKE DICKINSON – AN OBITUARY

9 August 1930 – 14 March 2024

Few things excited Mike Dickinson as much as the days leading up to the Lincolnshire Agricultural Show. His anticipation and enthusiasm were infectious; it was the only event in June that really mattered.

Mike lived the first two thirds of his life at Brampton near Torksey, a hamlet just east of the River Trent. He grew up there, farmed in partnership with his father then, from 1961, on his own until his retirement in 1993. Whilst it was a mixed farm, Mike was a stockman at heart, and he was passionate about building and improving his herd of British Friesian cattle. He was an active member of the British Friesian Cattle Society (BFCS). A highlight of his early career was a trip to Ontario arranged by the BFCS, after which he adopted much of the latest thinking at home. Showing the best of the dairy herd at the local shows punctuated the summer calendar, none more important than the Lincolnshire Show. Best of breed remained elusive, perhaps the following year?

Show Director from 1974 to 1983 (10 years)

Mike was involved in the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society from an early age. He became a livestock steward as soon as he could, and it was not long before he was invited to join the Council. He was Honorary Director of the Show for ten years from 1974. The legacy of which he was most proud was the construction of the embankment around the Main Ring at minimal cost to the Society. He negotiated with British Sugar to donate the waste soil from the beet factory at Brigg, he persuaded the local farmers to backload soil from the factory to the showground and managed to get much of the engineering done at cost. The embankment has been enjoyed by all who have visited the show ever since.

LAS Chairman from 1984, 1985 and 1986.

Mike was Chairman of the Society from 1984 to 1986 and a Life Member of Council. A gregarious country gentleman, his final role as Sponsors and Hospitality Steward in conjunction with his wife, Gillie, was a fitting finale.

The winter calendar focussed on field sports: shooting in his early adult life, he then returned to fox hunting, riding with the Burton hounds where he enjoyed being Chairman for several years. Riding to hounds finished abruptly following a fall over a gate (without the aid of a horse), but it was the social side of country pursuits and their associated friendships that mattered most.

Mike was married to Heather for 21 years. After he was widowed, he married Gillie and they had been together for almost half a century, spending their retirement in Hope Cove, south Devon.

A celebration of his life will take place at the Epic Centre, Lincolnshire Showground at 11am on 10 May 2024.