In Loving Memory of
Michael Bennett
(1949–2022)
It is with love, pride, and a few chuckles that we remember Michael “Mick” Bennett, who passed away peacefully on 3rd September 2022, aged 73.
Born in Sheffield in 1949, Mick was a man of quiet strength, constant curiosity, and cheeky charm. He worked as a railway engineer for over 35 years, but his real legacy was in the lives he touched — friends, family, colleagues, and even strangers he struck up conversations with at bus stops.
Mick met his beloved wife, Angela, at a local record shop in 1972. They danced together for 48 years — through ups, downs, two children, five house moves, and countless roast dinners. He was a loving father, a doting grandad, and the first one up to put the kettle on.
He loved maps, Sunday papers, and a good fry-up. He hated waste, cold tea, and “new-fangled nonsense.” He could fix anything with a bit of duct tape and was a master of pub quizzes and dad jokes.
Though he’s no longer with us, his laugh echoes, his lessons linger, and his love lives on — in stories told over Sunday dinners, in songs on the radio, and in the smell of fresh engine oil.
Forever in our hearts. And always in the garage.
“He could fix anything except a quiet room. And we liked it that way.”
— Jake Bennett, son
Lovely Little Facts
Tea or coffee? – Tea. Builder’s strength.
Early bird or night owl? – Early bird. Up before the birds.
Sweet or savoury? – Savoury. Especially pork scratchings.
Cats or dogs? – Dogs. “Cats are too clever by half.”
Seaside or countryside? – Seaside. Whitby every time.
Introvert or extrovert? – Quiet in crowds, loud at home.
Favourite season? – Autumn. Best walking weather.
Favourite book? – “Touching the Void” by Joe Simpson
Favourite meal? – Full English with extra black pudding.
Most worn item? – Flat cap — even wore it inside sometimes.
Go-to pub order? – Pint of bitter and a Scotch egg.
Favourite place? – Lake District. “God’s country.”
Favourite music? – Fleetwood Mac, The Kinks, and “a bit of Elvis.”
Hobby he could talk about for hours? – Trains. Real and model.
One thing he always carried? – Swiss Army knife. “Just in case.”
TV show never missed? – Only Fools and Horses.
A phrase he said a lot? – “I’ll tell you what…”
Favourite quote? – “Measure twice, cut once.”
Best thing he cooked? – Bacon sarnie. Fried in the pan.
Famous person he’d like to meet? – David Attenborough..
“Mick was the kind of bloke who made you laugh even when the car wouldn’t start.”
— Clive,neighbour of 25 years)
A Life in Pictures
“He was Grandad, mentor, and toast-burner-in-chief. I’ll miss his whistle in the hallway.”
— Lily, granddaughter
A few of my Favourite Things
Flower:
Sunflower (“Big, yellow, and good for birds.”)
Film:
Zulu
Snack:
Cheese & onion crisps
Item of pride:
His garden shed (“organised chaos”)
Smell:
Engine oil and newspaper ink
Place to nap:
In the car, waiting for Angela at the shops
Sound:
Steam trains and the clink of mugs
Saying:
“You don’t ask, you don’t get.”
“He gave me my first toolkit and my first driving lesson. Same afternoon.”
— Dan, nephew
Memory Maps
Sheffield, South Yorkshire
His hometown and lifelong pride.
Whitby, North Yorkshire
Favourite seaside getaway with the family.
Derwentwater, Lake District
His peaceful spot for walking and thermos tea.
Oamaru, New Zealand
A dream destination he ticked off post-retirement (“for the trains and the pies”).
“Angela always said he was 30% grump, 70% gold.”
— Joan, sister-in-law
A Final Word
Thank you for taking the time to remember Mick.
He was a husband, a father, a tinkerer, a storyteller, and a proper gent. The world may be a little quieter without him, but his memory lives on in every well-brewed cup of tea, every groan-worthy joke, and every lesson he passed down.
Forever loved. Never forgotten.
Now probably fixing something in heaven’s shed.
www.legacy-stones.com