Michael Taylor
Michael Taylor, who became a member of the Rotary Club of Kirkham and Rural Fylde 50 years ago, passed away in January 2015 at the age of 78 after a battle with Cancer.
Michael was club president in 1971-72 and in 2005 became a Paul Harris Fellow in recognition of his work for communities and local charities and was extremely proud to have been so honoured.
He was a trustee of Trinity- The Hospice in the Fylde for several years and gave support to many local charities as well as to his local church, St. James at Stalmine.
Born and raised in Poulton-le-Fylde, he as educated at St. Bee’s, Cumbria. He began his career as a press photographer for the Lancashire Evening Post, spending 10 years covering the Fylde coast. He also worked as a photographer during his two National Service, when he travelled around Africa and Arabia doe the first Joint Public Relations Service of the Ministry of Defence.
Following this he became involved in owning Saddlery Centres throughout Britain. Buying his first caravan park in Kirkham was the start of owning both residential and holiday parks in the North West.
Michael became chairman of this local branch of the NFSO, now the British Holiday and Home Park Association. He also joined the national caravan council and was nominated for the Parks Committee and served on the industry committee negotiating with the Government pulling the industry views forward for the Mobile Home Act.
He went onto develop tourism in the Northwest and served as chairman of many committees’ and was a director of Lancashire tourism Partnership and vice chairman of Wyre Tourism.
The first Northwest Caravan show was set up by Michael at the Norbreck Castle. It was moved to Belle Vue and then, because of its success to GMEX in Manchester. Michael was chairman of the show committee for 10 years, seeing it strengthen with each passing year.
Always striving to make Caravan Holiday Home’s and his parks as good as they can be, Michael transformed what was one of the tattiest parks in the Lake District into the first totally timber holiday caravan park in the country.
Working with Cosalt Holiday Homes to create timber units, Bassenwaite Lakeside Lodges went on to win several awards for innovation and working with the environment.
The same concept, adapted to the local countryside using timber units stained in blues and greens, has won awards for his latest development, Sunset Park in Hambleton.
Michael always said he was from Lancashire – he was proud of that!
Michael married his wife Sandy, who he met on her 113th trip on the QE2, 40 years ago. He often joked he wouldn’t have asked her to dance if he’d had known she was American!
They have resided in Hambleton since 1975 and together they have won several awards for the quality of the caravan parks and innovativeness.
In the last two years Michael was pleased his son Paul, daughter-in-law Karen and grandson Elliot had joined them in the business at Hambleton.
To Michael, retirement meant running the business he loved and being able to travel, as he wanted.
Michael and Sandy have another son, David, who attended Arnold School and the University of Manchester before working for Disney in Orlando for 10 years. He then decided to follow his dream to be a pilot and is now first officer with Compass Air in the USA.
Having survived a double heart bypass 28 years ago, Michael enjoyed very good health until he was diagnosed with cancer in July 2014. A strong, self-made man, he hopefully will be remembered as being direct but kind, helpful and having a wicked sense of humour.
He will be sorely missed by his wife, Sandy, sons Paul & David, daughter-in-law Karen, son-in-law, Paul, grand children Rosie, Jonny and Elliot and great granddaughters, Megan and Chloe as well as the many friends he has made over his 78 years of life.
