Mike Drew - Obituary

Mike Drew joined the club in 1971 and his classification was Pharmacy, since all his working life he was a Community Pharmacist.

I first met Mike at meetings of the Grimsby Local Branch of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society when I started work at the Hospital in 1978.

Mike was in partnership with Graham Calder, and they traded under the name of R.C. Johnson Chemists.  They had a branch in top town (initially in the Bull Ring, then Freshney Place and latterly in Old Market Street).  When they retired the businesses were sold.  In retirement Mike continued to work as a locum Pharmacist for private pharmacy owners for a number of years.

He was member of the Humberside Local Pharmaceutical Committee, representing Community Pharmacy in Grimsby and eventually became Chairman.  He continued in this role for the South Bank, when Humberside Area was split into two following an NHS reorganisation.  I was a member of that Committee and represented Hospital Pharmacy.  When Mike retired from the Committee a dinner was held in his honour and he was presented with a commemorative gift.

Mike’s passion was cricket and he joined The Meggies in 1949 at the age of 15. He went on to play for over forty years taking over 1,000 wickets, holding onto 227 catches and notching up 6,330 runs.  He was made Club Secretary in 1958 and moved on to become Chairman of the Cleethorpes Cricket Club in 1990. Mike remains the Meggies' longest serving Chairman, having held the post for over two decades.  Mike will be fondly remembered at the Club.

Mike married Joan late in life and her death was a great shock to him, from which he never  seemed to have recovered.  He spent his last years in care.

Mike was of a gentle disposition, quietly spoken, a good Committee Chairman and a real gentleman.

Thanks to Martyn Turner for the Obituary