A well known and highly regarded Bridlington historian has sadly died.
Mike Wilson passed away yesterday morning (21 May 2025) after a long illness.
He lived with his wife Diane on New Pasture Lane and was a familiar face at the community centre. In July last year he hosted a talk on the famous conductor Herman Darewski.
Mike as always, had meticulously researched the history of the famous composer Darewski, and told of his life and times as resident conductor at the Bridlington Spa Royal Hall in the 1920s.
Over the past 9 years Mike wrote a history page for the Bridlington Echo and also created a fabulous broadsheet 1940s newspaper along with tabloid supplement celebrating the premiere of the release of a Dad’s Army movie, which was predominantly filmed in Bridlington Old Town.
Mike wrote and published over 25 books, many on the history of Bridlington as well as smaller journals and research papers.
He and his wife Diane often travelled over to Belgium to stay at Talbot House in Popperinge where they volunteered to look after the World War One museum and historical records in the building that was to be the HQ of the TOCH organisation. One of Mike’s poems features in the display.
Mike was also the guest of honour at many events and gave talks all over the area about various historical subjects dear to his heart.
Mike and Diane were also active members of the Bridlington Veterans Coffee Morning Group – with Mike compiling and writing many stories about veterans in the town.
And as befitting for a true newspaperman, Mike married Diane – who was daughter of the then Bridlington Free Press editor Arthur Porter who headed the paper until 1989.
Bridlington Echo editor Simon Kench said: “Mike had such an infectious enthusiasm for history and his writing and grammar was meticulous.
“I met Mike in the 1990’s when he ran a typesetting business called Quicksilver in Driffield producing computer generated pages for local newspapers.
“He had moved from the old hot metal and manual typesetting process with ease and was such a master of detail – he could spot an error a mile away.”
“He was a great asset to the town with his extensive knowledge and also helped launch the town play in the 1990’s which centred on his ‘hero’ lifeboatman Kit Brown (which Mike played) in the groundbreaking production.”
“Mike was delighted when the Echo launched in 2016 and readily offered his history research and writings for the paper – I never needed to proof his work – it was always word and punctuation perfect.”
Fellow Bridlington historian and author Richard Jones also paid a heartfelt tribute to Mike.
“Mike became a close friend and one that inspired me to write about history myself, he did after all write over two dozen books as well as honour his heroes by putting plaques in the town for music producer Herman Darewski and lifeboatman Kit Brown.
“As the years went by he worked on so many projects…my personal favourite anecdote was when somebody came to Bridlington and needed information… the Tourist Information rang Mike who simply said, “Send them up here!” and he welcomed them into his home. “If I can help them, then why delay…. Lets talk about it now!” he would say to me.
“The way he was, led to me writing my first book The Great Gale of 1871 where he was instrumental in making sure the facts were all there and adding in bits that I had not known. He happily came to some of my own events whether it be a book launch or a public speaking engagement and in 2014 he stood in for me when I couldn’t be at my own plaque opening for Wallace Hartley at the Bridlington Spa.
“So yes, Mike will be greatly missed. He was not only my friend but he was my mentor, not afraid to advise me to make me a better writer or researcher. He was a good person and his passing has left many people in Bridlington sad to hear that he is no longer with us. He loved Bridlington and as I found out over the last 28 years of knowing him, Bridlington loved him too.”
Mike Wilson, Bridlington author, historian and newspaperman.
4 May 1936 – 21 May 2025
His funeral will be held at The East Riding Crematorium, Octon Tuesday 10th June at 12.30pm.
Family flowers only.
Further information from Ernest Brigham and F Kneeshaw and Sons, 51 St John Street, Bridlington, YO16 7NN. 01262 675124.
