Cross, Michael

OT 99 - North

Date of Death: 27/11/2010

From The Gazette 53.

Michael died peacefully in the Kent and Canterbury Hospital on 27 November 2010 in the 75th year of his age. It was a merciful release from a protracted fight against diabetes, which had already resulted in the amputation of both his legs. As his partner, Aileen, wrote, ‘He met all the setbacks and challenges with a remarkable inner strength and stubborn determination.’

Mike arrived at School in September 1949 with 40 other boys. Life was harsh, for the first-year pupils had already established a formidable hierarchy. Those lacking in moral fibre automatically became vulnerable. Fortunately, Mike was an independent and robust individual, well able to take care of himself. In consequence, he quickly settled into the routine of School life. Before leaving in 1954 he had been appointed a School prefect, and enjoyed a reputation in the 1st XV as a hard-tackling and skilful hooker.

He was always smart, in a dress sense – shoes polished, trousers pressed, and an upright military gait that he continued to exercise throughout his Army career. Within a few days he had acquired an appropriate nickname, ‘X’. By schoolboy standards Mike was both tidy and precise. Thus, he rapidly became a stalwart within the Estate Work organisation, managing projects and allocating schedules for the twice-weekly afternoon programme. But it is for his thespian interests that he will be best remembered. He was hardly a Richard Burton, but Ralph White always cast him in a part appropriate to his ability. He also became involved in back-stage activities and during his five years at School he invested much of his free time in Drama Club activities.

When Mr Foot introduced cursive script as a means to improve the legibility of boys’ handwriting, Mike quickly invested in a special cursive pen, thus becoming one of the first boys guaranteed a ‘5’ in the last column of the Report Card. He maintained the same immaculate handwriting throughout his life.

Mike was one of the last young men called up for compulsory National Service. He attended MONS Officer Cadet School, and in 1955 accepted a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Regiment of Artillery. The Regiment became his world, and Army life his first love. He spent much of his career in Germany and the UK, but he had the good fortune to serve in Hong Kong in the early ’60s. It was during this tour that he commanded the United Nations Honour Guard, based in Panmunjom on the Truce Line between the two Koreas. Sadly, shortly after his tour he contracted diabetes. It resulted in him being downgraded medically, and thenceforth restricted him to non-operational postings. Organisational and administrative appointments followed until he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1991, when he opted for a further eight years as a retired officer, working for the Ministry of Defence. Subsequently he became deeply involved with Old
Comrades’ organisations, holding the presidency of the Royal Artillery Association’s Dover Branch and being a representative on that organisation’s National Executive Committee. Yet he still found time to attend Old Boys’ functions, often accompanied by his partner, Aileen Friend.

Mike was proud of being an Ottershaw Old Boy, amply demonstrated by his frequent attendance at the London Dinner/Luncheon. Upon final retirement, Mike became deeply involved in the work of St Andrew’s Church, Shepherdswell. He sang in the choir, became a source of wise counsel on the church council and served as Chairman of the Dover Deanery Men’s Fellowship. He was humble before God and a very Christian man who pursued and practised the principles of Cursillo. When I spoke to him the day prior to his death he said that he was looking forward to the future. I know what he meant.
Dennis Williams (OT 115)