Michael John Galloway passed away last week, two days short of his 85th birthday. He worked in Forestry and Arb businesses most of his life and was one of the original members of the Arboricultural Association.
Mike was born on 21st July 1932. He went to Lingfield County Secondary School, did national service (RAMC) and was at Suez during the occupation. Early in his career he worked as a gardener at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, later he became an ambulance driver serving the London area.
While in London he met Doreen and together they moved to Hull where they were married in 1958. They lived on the East Coast of Yorkshire in Great Cowden. The family moved to Ravenscar in 1967, where he became head gardener of The Ravenhall Hotel. Doreen stopped work, but a few years later became a Health Visitor and local midwife when they moved again, to the Nurses House in Lythe. The family suspect that Doreen was the inspiration for the Health Visitor in Heartbeat, as the author lived in the Police House two doors down and the books mention the speedy midwife in her blue Mini.
During his career in Arboriculture Mike worked at the Economic Forestry Group in the 1970s then Northern Tree Care, Wakefield Tree Surgeons. He then formed his own company, Galloway Tree Surgeons, which is now Galloway Trees Ltd and is run by his son Anthony.
Mike is Survived by his four children, Helen, Jane, Anthony, Diana, & Margaret. & 9 grandchildren He will be missed terribly.
The funeral service will be at South London Crematorium, Friday 28th July at 10.15am.