A death in our group

[blue angel]

Hello everyone, It is with a heavy heart that I must tell you all that Michael Lighthill died this morning at 12:50 at Royal Berkshire Hospital.

[lynne]

Aww! So, so sorry to hear this very, very sad news, my condolences to yourself & his family!!:grouphug:

[pabbers]

:grouphug:
Hello everyone, It is with a heavy heart that I must tell you all that Michael Lighthill died this morning at 12:50 at RBH.So sorry to hear this and hugs to you Blue Angel. Michael was a valued member of the forum and I've missed him during his long and bravely borne period of ill health. We exchanged emails from time to time but I hadn't heard from him more recently.

[traveller7]

Sorry to hear this news though I didnt know him :grouphug:

[RoastLamb]

Oh no, poor Michael. :grouphug: He was such a lovely, lovely man. I just adored him. I met him at Wimbledon in 2009 and he was so funny and kind. We had a blast. Then he came over to Toronto in 2010 for Rogers Cup. He came for the entire week and watched every single session from qualifying to the final. We sat together at the final and had the best time particularly coz Andy won. And on my DVD of the final you can see him and I at the end waving the Scottish flag as Andy walked around the court with his trophy. We had Pimm's afterwards to celebrate. He was hoping to come over next year to Rogers Cup as well. He had a sister in Ottawa. I will miss him so very much. xxx :grouphug: BlueAngel xxx

[Linda]

I am really sad to hear that; I liked Michael a lot - he was such good company at various tennis tournaments. Thank you for telling us, Linda. Hugs to you and to all his family and friends :grouphug:

[patmoren]

Hello everyone, It is with a heavy heart that I must tell you all that Michael Lighthill died this morning at 12:50 at RBH.

So sorry to hear that. He had such a torrid time over the last few years. Will miss him at DC he was such a brave man with a quirky sense of humour. Never forget at the airport at one Davis Cup we were texting each other and were either side of the carousel, was the first time we had met in person.

[banskogirl]

Really sorry to hear the sad news about Michael :grouphug:to all his family and friends.

[RoastLamb]

Trying to upload some photos of Michael on here but for some reason it just won't let me. :sad:

[cazza99]

So so sorry to hear about Michael. He was a very valued member of the forum when he was well enough to post. :grouphug: :grouphug:

[supergran]

It is very sad. I received a message this morning from Blue Angel and did post on twitter to a few people. I really thought he was getting better and I hadn't heard from them for a while so presumed he was in better health. He was such a lovely man, so funny and we enjoyed DC together. Sending sympathy and love to you Blue Angel and to Michael's family. RIP Michael.

[blue angel]

Michael Lighthill loved tennis and was so pleased to see Andy win Wimbledon. Michael said he could die a happy man now. he had battled to the very end. I will miss him terribly!
Linda

[JAMES4578]

Hello everyone, It is with a heavy heart that I must tell you all that Michael Lighthill died this morning at 12:50 at RBH.

So sorry to hear the sad news,condolences to you and all Michael's family Blue Angel.

[supergran]

Dear Linda, I am so sorry. I'm glad he saw Andy win Wimbledon He did love his tennis and he loved life and you! His struggles are over but you will carry on with the knowledge that you knew and loved a really good and beautiful person. Thinking of you. God bless. xx

[blue angel]

Thank you everyone. I loved Michael dearly and am lost without him.

[RoastLamb]

I'm so glad he got to see Andy win. I feel for you Linda. xxx :grouphug: :flowers:

[Golden Lady]

I am so sorry to hear the sad news about Michael. I met him once at the O2 in 2010 and I knew what a wonderful fan of Andy's he was. I will be remembering those of you who were close to Michael in my prayers, especially Blue Angel :grouphug:

[pabbers]

Also glad to know he saw Andy win last Sunday.

[xenon21]

I am so sorry to hear this :( Michael was such a lovely guy and was a pleasure to know him. A huge Andy fan! I remember when I first met him at queens and he recognised me. He also got to shake andy's hand that day :)

I am really glad that he got to watch Andy win

:grouphug: Linda

[VamosVixs]

Sad to hear this. Thoughts and prayers to all those close to Michael. :sad: :grouphug:

[KnightOwl]

So sad to hear this news. Michael was a lovely man, very kind-hearted with an endearing, if slightly eccentric, sense of humour :)

We spent some happy times in his company on several forum trips to Davis Cup, and also bumping into him on occasion at Queens or Wimbledon. He wasn't above poking fun at himself, and had me in stitches on several occasions listening to his anecdotes. He took such glee in some of the situations he got himself into, or odd things that happened to him, and it was very infectious.

I am happy for him that he was at least able to see Andy as Wimbledon Champion before he had to leave us, and I will remember him with great fondness.

My condolences to you as well, Linda - I know you meant a lot to him, and I'm sure you will miss him terribly :grouphug:

[davech]

So sorry to hear the news, Linda. We always had a great time at tennis events with Michael - we'll really miss him.

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2599/3785739799_be419b8982_z.jpg?zz=1
Michael spots us at Wimbledon 2009

[cazza99]

So sorry about Michael. But I am glad he managed to see Andy win Wimbledon. :grouphug: :grouphug:

[patmoren]

So sorry to hear that. He had such a torrid time over the last few years. Will miss him at DC he was such a brave man with a quirky sense of humour. Never forget at the airport at one Davis Cup we were texting each other and were either side of the same carousel, was the first time we had met in person!!

[banskogirl]

Thoughts and prayers with everyone who knew and loved Michael. Very sad and feel like we know everyone on here even though we have never met :(

[Jan]

So very sorry to hear the news.
:flowers:

[cloudygirl]

Just wanted to say how sorry I am to hear this. Met him at wimbledon a few years ago. He was a lovely man :(

[jeannie13]

I'm so sorry to hear that Michael had passed away.I met him at DC at Braehead in 2011. He was a lovely man with a great sense of humour & told amusing stories of things that happened to him.
I am so glad that he got to see Andy win Wimbledon. He was such a great tennis fan. He'll be missed by all his friends & relatives.

[blue angel]

Thank you so much for posting this photo.it is lovely to see Michael so happy!

[blue angel]

Hello Everyone, Micheal's service has been delayed. It is to be held 2 August 2013, at 1400. The address is below
St. Marylebone Crematorium
East End Rd, Finchley, London, london, N2 0RZ
Tel: 020 8343 2233
Just thought you would like to know and maybe offer a prayer or two during that time.
Thanks again for you support during this sorrowful time. Linda

[traveller7]

Will be thinking of him and will say a pray for him at church this weekend.

[banskogirl]

Am and will be praying for all concerned.

[Caro]

I am so sorry to hear the news about Michael. I met him at several Davis Cup trips and he had a great sense of humour. How lovely that he was able to see Andy win Wimbledon, it must have meant a lot as I know what a big fan he was. Look after yourself blueangel :hug: RIP Michael.

[Sallydaisy]

Hi all

Just to let you know that I'm going to attend Michael's funeral service this coming Friday afternoon in North London on behalf of all the AMFF'ers who knew him.

I'll not be able to stay for the Wake afterwards because I have prior family commitments.

The mod team have discussed this and we've decided it's best to take along just one card of condolence signed on behalf of 'all of Michael's friends on the forum'.

The family have looked on the forum and seen the photo which Davech posted of Michael and all your messages. We are going to email that photo over to them and if any of you have others of Michael that you don't mind sharing perhaps you could email them to andymurrayfanforum@hotmail.com and we'll try to forward them.

The family are donating the 'collection plate' from the service to The British Heart Foundation so we think it the best charity to which we, as a group, might make a donation. There are already a few who wish to do so and we think an AMFF cheque might be simplest so, if any of you would like to add to the fund please PM any one of the mods who will then let you have the bank account details.

I've had a couple of conversations with Michael's sister and she tells me the family have looked at this thread and seen the photo posted by Dave and appreciate all your messages.

:flowers:

[RoastLamb]

I have lots of photos. I tried to post them on here but it was unsuccessful. I will email them to you. All the best Sally and thanks so much for going. xxx

[Genbrit]

Sorry to hear about Michael. I am glad he saw Andy win Wimbledon. Thanks for representing all of us Sally. Thoughts and prayers to his family & friends.

[traveller7]

Hope it goes as well as expected today.

[Steven]

So sorry to hear about this (I haven't been on the forum much recently and got alerted by Sally's tweet about the funeral this evening) - although I didn't know Michael very well, I thought I remembered him from a couple of Davis Cup trips and the photo confirmed it. He always seemed like someone who enjoyed life and was a lot of fun and I feel for all of you who knew him a lot better than I did.

[ljs]

Ive just seen this myself . I didnt know Michael personally , but I remember talking to him a few times on the forum , he seemed like such a sweetie.

my condolences to his family :grouphug:

[supergran]

I was thinking of him on Friday. How lovely that you attended Sally and talked to his family.