Marske Digital Village

Mike was born in Tooting, London in 1945.

He worked for the Royal Mail at Tooting Sorting Office until 13th February 1978 when he transferred to Redcar Delivery Office to be closer to Judith, who became his wife. He was postman for Marske High Street, The Wynd, and Coast Road area from 1980 to1986 when he was elected to a full-time Official for the Communication Workers Union throughout the North East, he took early voluntary retirement in 1999.

Mike was an original member of the committee that took over the Marske Liesure Centre from the Council in 1982.

In January 1998 he formed the Marske and New Marske Pensioners monthly “Entertainment Afternoon” at the Cheshire Home, he stood down from this in 2007.

In August 1999 along with others he formed The Marske Town Centre Partnership (later to become Marske Community Partnership ) and was elected Chairman, organising the first Christmas Festival in December of the same year.

In November 2007 Mike formed the Cleveland Pensioners Forum, (which had 4,000 members) campaigning for Pensioners throughout Cleveland, he stood down in December 2005.

On 17th June 2005 Mike was diagnosed with having Motor Neurone Disease. Although this news was a great shock, Mike being Mike, along with his family and friends formed “The Mike Findley MND Fund” which to date has raised £50,458.43 for research.

In 2003 and again in 2007 Mike was elected a Redcar Borough Councillor for the Longbeck Ward, which covers part of Marske and all of New Marske. Then in 2007 he was elected Deputy Mayor then becoming Mayor in 2008. When he attended over 300 functions.

In January 2010 he was awarded the MBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours List, for Charity work in Redcar and Cleveland.

A well deserved award!!!

Here is Mike and his family outside Buckingham Palace after receiving his MBE from Her Majesty The Queen