Michael Green died on 26 November 2023, aged 85. The following is an abridged version of a tribute given at Mike’s funeral by his long-standing friend, Clive Burton. The full tribute can be read on the Cheltonian Society website.

Michael Green, who was known to most of us as Mike, was an amazing man. A slightly gruff exterior hid a kind and generous nature. He was very adventurous and was always keen to discover new things. Recently he remarked that he was 85 and had had a good life. This summed him up in just a few words; never one to duck a challenge and always positive.

Mike was brought up in Cheltenham and started at Cheltenham College Junior School in 1946 as a Day Boy. Mike appeared to enjoy his time at the College and finishing his schooling he was called up for National Service. He was selected to attend officers’ training but during the initial interview the officer asked him whether he was interested in the army. ‘Absolutely not at all,’ he replied and so he was not put onto the course. He was instead made driver for the Commanding Officer which he enjoyed immensely.

However, as a private soldier this proved a bit of a disadvantage when he met Caroline who happened to be the daughter of a General. He proposed three times to Caroline and she refused him three times. Finally, Mike said, ‘You will not get my pension if we are not married,’ and so she agreed to marry him. They had 32 very happy years together.

After completing his NS, Mike began his training as a Chartered Surveyor. He joined a firm of Surveyors called Leslie Furness and by the time he retired in 1995 he was the senior partner. One of his business activities was arbitration. He was particularly suited to this type of work as it involved listening to both sides (and he was a great listener) and making sound and sometimes difficult decisions that were not necessarily welcomed by all parties. His clients included some of the big high street retail names.

Outside of work, one of Mike’s activities was golf which he was good at and had a handicap of only 16. He was also a great traveller, always interested in going to new places. Only a few weeks before he died, he and Caroline enjoyed a holiday in Croatia and in the spring they had been on a cruise from Cape Town to Madagascar. This was despite the fact that by this stage Mike was not able to walk unaided. There were parties too to celebrate big birthdays, brilliantly organised by Caroline, and sometimes a complete surprise for Mike. He had a tremendous capacity for friendship and as people have commented was a stimulating dinner companion.

Freemasonry was a big part of Mike’s life. Having lived in Cheltenham and been to the College, it was quite natural that he should want to join his School Lodge. He was initiated in 1975 and progressed to becoming Master in 1983 as well as in 2000 and 2007. Mike was a member of several other lodges, including Grand Stewards’ Lodge which may justifiably be described as the premier lodge of England & Wales. He was introduced to the Lodge by OC Seymour Robinson (Corinth House, 1920-23 and Clive Burton’s father-in-law) and it was here that Mike really came into his own. He had an extensive and lasting influence for over a quarter of a century that has provided the lodge with great consistency. In 2006 he was made Master of Grand Stewards’ Lodge, which he loved. He was in his element travelling round the country visiting the Provincial Grand Stewards’ lodges where he made lasting friends.

Mike has three sons, David, Jim and Chris and four grandchildren. Mike’s grandchildren have written about how much they loved him; they enjoyed his sense of humour, the stories he would tell, appreciated that he was so non-judgmental and was a great listener.

I have heard many other glowing tributes to Mike about how generous he was, what a privilege it was to know him, how adventurous he was and how he loved trying out new things. We are all privileged to have known Mike and he will be greatly missed by so many of us.