Roy and Gladys Jones: “Mike played a decisive role in my life, with his help at the Morning Star.” 

“His attention to detail and his humanity gave added value to even the most modest story.  Always first to the bar!”

Andrew Murray: “Mike was as good a comrade as one could wish for. A fine journalist, loyal to the labour movement, to the socialist cause and to his friends. He put the social into socialism.”

Liz Weston: “I remember his warmth, eccentricities and friendship.”

Francis Beckett: “So very far from being ready to hang up his boots.”

Bridget Henderson: “People at Unite House will mourn and remember his extraordinary life.”

Peter Arkell: “His passing has left a big hole in the life of all his friends, worthy of a full chapter in his book Characters of Fitzrovia.”

Diana Holland: “Fond memories of working with Mike; his stories, commitment and comradeship.”

Tony Gould: “The Tolpuddle Branch of Unite mourns the death of Mike. He loved working for The Landworker and took such an interest in the work and lives of our members.”

Jim Mowatt: “Vivid memories of Mike transforming scraps of paper and incoherent stories into riveting journalism.”

Barry Camfield, from Australia: “A lovely man. I loved his quiet disregard for those in power, both union and politics who were too up themselves, or just plain right wing.”

George and Alison Ryde, from New Zealand: “What a shock. We were going to join Mike to watch the West Ham v Watford game in May.”

Joe Irvin: “When the lockdown’s over, we should have a lock-in for Mike!”

Lord (Ray) Collins: “Really sad news.”

Konstantine Belov, from Moscow: “We stayed with Mike. He had a great sense of humour.”

Dick Coldwell: “Extraordinary man with a generous spirit.”

Jack Marlow, joint world president ISBMC, in Bremen: “We decided to start the club when we were in a German beer cellar. Mike was always helpful and kind.”

Sue Longley: “Mike was a lovely person, with a wonderful, (often not pc) sense of humour! And a great commitment to the labour movement.”

Amanda Campbell: “A giant of a humble man, his contribution to rural and agricultural workers’ lives was immense.”

Steve Turner: “I’m sure we’ll have a couple in his name on one of his pub tours when this is all over.”

Philippa Clarke and Charlie Whelan: “Mike gave his all for the trade union and labour movement — the most unassuming, kind, generous and caring of men. Great company.”

Irene Dykes and Adrian Weir: “Mike did not just report on the struggle between capital and labour, especially in the countryside, he was an integral part of that battle. We were lucky to have worked with him and to have known him.”

Barrie Clement: “Mike was a character, a lovely bloke with a great sense of humour … most of his anecdotes are unprintable, we all loved him to bits.”