Old Buckenham remembers

 Mike Bartlett's life

The following post is based on the eulogy given by his daughter Julie at the celebration of his life. 

Michael Bartlett was born in Hove, Sussex, on 29 November 1936, an only child to Stanley and Amy Bartlett of 17 Fifth Road Hove. He attended a local junior school and later went on to Shoreham Grammar School. Academic yes but his true love was sport especially cricket and football, specifically his beloved Brighton and Hove Albion. He joined a local football team and it was there he met his closest friends and between them they had many a tale to tell. From an early age he was always seen with a football at his feet and this led, many years later, to one of his most treasured memories when he was a linesman for Norwich City.

The apple of his parents’ eyes however he had a rebellious side (no surprise to many of you) and decided to leave school before he should have done and got himself a job without his parents knowing. This was not well received. He applied for an auditors job at J. Sainsbury in London which he duly got and his career with this company flourished. After a few years, a promotion was on the cards but this meant a move to Norfolk. Mike didn’t hesitate, took the opportunity and hit the jackpot as he met his future wife Pauline there and they never looked back.

Mike and Pauline were married in October 1963 and lived initially in Forncett End followed by Fordham in Cambridgeshire. Here four years later his daughter Julie was born. Pauline went into labour and Mike went off to referee a football match with the midwife telling him that they could feel the football boots. So off he went with a smile on his face only to return to find a bundle of pink waiting for him. Never to be defeated, he brought Julie up to kick a ball and to go to football matches with him. He never did get a boy but two granddaughters and two great-granddaughters.

They returned to Norfolk again with his job in 1970 and lived in Kenninghall, (a house on the site of the Egg Packing Station where he worked) and then moved into their own house in Old Buckenham.

Old Buckenham was always a special village to Mike and he became instrumental in building the village hall which was opened in 1978. He spent years fundraising, organising village fetes, dances, bingo, etc. Julie fondly remembers his suggestion that in the school summer holidays she should knock on every door in the village and sell raffle tickets. For every book she sold he would give her commission. This encouraged Julie and gave her the foundations to emulate his work ethic. A Christian himself, he also worked tirelessly to raise money for the village church overseeing the overhaul of the tower along with raising significant monies for a new thatched roof and ensuring that every grant was applied for. Mike was an instigator of the Candlelight Christmas Eve service in All Saints and for many a year it was standing room only for those for this was the beginning of their Christmas. He was also chairman of the trustees for the Almshouses in the village and although not on the parish council he attended many of their meetings and was not backwards in coming forward if he felt that something should be said.

After promotion with the then Sainsbury Spillers, the company was taken over by Dalgety Foods which saw a move to the chicken division at Bury St Edmunds. This factory was then acquired by the Padley Group and Mike was made redundant and had to re-think his career path. The options were to re-locate to Aylesbury or to work for himself which he duly did by buying the Fresh & Frozen Centre in Attleborough. He turned this business around and after five years sold it and just concentrated on his egg business which he had started with Pauline some year’s previously. Mike continued to do this until semi-retirement came along in 2000.

Never being one for not doing something, Mike threw himself into raising money for the St Martins Homeless Charity. He once said his grandfather could not walk past a homeless person without giving them some money. It all started for him with standing at a supermarket entrance with a collecting bucket over the Christmas period whilst also visiting local business for donations and in return their name would be in the Christmas Eve Service sheet at the village church. Always one to spot an opportunity he then started to collect from supermarkets and garden centres all year round, standing in both cold and hot weather. He did have his favourites who in the depth of winter would bring him out a cup of coffee! His tenacity clearly paid off and he raised tens of thousands of pounds for St Martins. In 2025 a new building was opened and named after him, not that he understood this as his illness had started to impact his ability to understand what was going on around him.

One of the most proud moments and memories that the family have of Mike is receiving an MBE from the then Prince Charles in 2006. You could take three guests so Pauline, Olivia and Julie proudly attended. When the official letter first arrived from the Palace, Mike was completely taken aback and typically did not want to accept it as he genuinely felt that there were others more deserving than him. Along with those who had nominated him, family members persuaded him otherwise.

Over the last few years thing started to change for Mike and his ability to drive his white egg van caused great concern. Reluctantly he went off for a driving assessment and it was no surprise to others that he failed. Mike wanted to take it again but others knew this would not be possible. Eventually Mike agreed and Julie held his driving licence and van keys . It was about this time when sadly he had to stop going to Carrow Road every other week. His memory and balance were deteriorating and after many months of Pauline looking after him he went into the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital where he spent many weeks followed by three more weeks in Odgen Court in Wymondham. Returning home it was clear that the care that he now needed far exceeded what could be offered at home and with great trepidation from his family he went into The Beeches in East Harling. He did not really know where he was but was happy and well cared for which was a great comfort. Mike then had a chest infection and was taken to West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds which was where he sadly passed away on Wednesday 28 January this year. His family took enormous comfort in knowing that he did not suffer and passed away peacefully.

An incredible person, an incredible life and an inspiration not only to his family but those who were lucky enough to know him and to those who didn’t know him but have benefitted from his tireless work.