Andre Michel

Obituary: Andre Michel, 2008

Andre was born in London in 1922. His parents were French and he spent a lot of time between the two countries. His parents owned a house just outside Paris.

He was a trained musician and spent some time at the Paris Conservatoire. In the 1950s he earned his crust for a while working in London variety theatre orchestras and served four years with the Coldstream Guards. He played violin and e flat bass.

When he left he worked for a travel company for a while, ending up at British Rail in the 1960s working in the Continental office in Victoria and as Relief Station Manager for Southern Region. He worked as the latter until the mid-70s when a mild stroke meant he was no longer able to work full time and BR gave him early retirement.

In the 1980s he became a member of the Honourable Artillery Company, playing for the orchestra at receptions in The Mansion House and the band which always took part the Lord Mayors Parade. He was widowed in 1986 and to help keep busy became a keen volunteer at the Crystal Palace Museum for a number of years before becoming involved with Brighton Toy and Model Museum. He loved steam and used to drag the family to all kinds of exotic places like Swindon to see engines in action. He had footplate passes for SNCF - not many families get driven down to the South of France with Dad at the wheel ... of the steam engine. He was a keen modelmaker and collector of diverse items from stamps to models to camera equipment. When he got interested in something he would get completely absorbed by it.

Whilst on holiday in Lille in 2002 (I think), one of his lungs collapsed and whilst he made a good recovery, he never quite had the stamina he used to have and had to give up the museum, which he really missed. His health was not great for the last few months but he was able to get out and about for short trips and shopping. He died at home on 10th August from heart failure.

He is survived by his two children, Elaine and Philippe.