Shock. A couple of years ago he came in the pub on soul night.He said he was retiring and returning up here. He was going to have a crack at dj'ing and I was going to sort him out with some gear. He was a real music man. Nice lad. RIP.

So sad to hear this....enjoyed his contributions to this board.RIP.

RIP hampstead, you'll be missed.

Thanks for all of the above. Michael died last night from cancer here in Burnley, amongst his family who loved him dearly. As was his wish. He was 62 and was indeed a St Ted's lad. He could be irrascible and certainly opinionated, and frequently told off by his family for being so. He was also thoroughly decent, caring, funny and the best bloke I knew to share a drink with. We will miss him dreadfully.

Always a sad day when one of our own dies and at times its like you sort of know them with a relationship that this message board serves up
Like me michael like his soul Keep The Faith fellow in the big blue yonder
RIP to reelected poster and condolences to his family and friends

I had many a music debate with Hampstead, mainly in the previous Clarets Mad days and enjoyed the chats immensely.

Really sad news to hear of his passing and sending lots of love to his family and friends.

RIP fella.

I didnt know him personally but enjoyed his contributions on here (especially to music threads) and respected his views.
RIP fellow claret & fellow music-lover.

Seeing this has made me terribly sad.

A very clever man, particularly on music and economics, always sensible and added greatly to this message-board and no doubt to the lives of those he met face to face. I’d like to thank him for adding to my enjoyment of intelligent discussions even if he will never read my thanks in person.

Without doubt there is an age when the sadness of all this stuff starts to weigh down on you, and I have long since reached it.

I'm shocked, and deeply saddened.
Over the years on here and our other home, I'd grown to like him and his forthright views, and often agreed with them.
He posted some great music related too.

R. I. P Hamps.

RIP Hampstead Claret..Condolences to all your family. I read all of his posts on Claretsmad and on here especially his musical ones in which he excelled at and was thoroughly knowledgeable..Goodbye to a top bloke who will sadly be missed by one and all.

Very sorry to hear this. I was wondering why he hadnt been commenting on the rugby. Used to enjoy reading his knowledgable input on this. RIP and thoughts to his family.

I'm sorry about this too.

I found his political comments often a bit too aggressive but respected his music threads.

On the whole a good poster on this forum.

Yes Hipper I agree with those sentiments and in Hampstead’s way as he would have commented; post 54 sums up how many of us would have assessed him to be irrascible and opinionated.
As a receiver of some of his rebuttals he used to **** me off. This MB will not be the same without his posts; to lose a fellow claret at such a relatively young age is sad and my condolences go to his family and friends who judging from post 1 will have lost a very good man
If there is an after life he will be having a ball with all those musicians he has posted on who have left us
RIP Hampstead

RIP Hampstead, and condolences to his family and friends.

Yes a sad loss, an excellent contributor to this board. From his postings I imagine he was an Economics teacher since he clearly understood economic models and Keynesianism. Left of centre Labour man with a deep knowledge of music, also a keen rugby union supporter. I never met him but will miss his contributions, one who always added to this board. RIP.

RIP lad....far to young.

Condolences to all Hampstead Clarets friends and family.
RIP fellow Claret.

Hampstead Claret was but a casual acquaintance of mine due to my connection with St. Albans. I admired the was he was always so steadfast in his views when plenty others wouldn't have even stuck their head over the keyboard parapet. A good man.

Really shocked to pick up on this thread. Hampstead, I always respected your input on all things music. Your knowledge and contribution on the subject was immeasurable and you'll be sorely missed. May I offer my condolences to Hampstead's family and friends. Sleep easy and RIP.

RIP Hampstead Claret , condolences to his family & friends.

Genuinely upsetting news - with deepest condolences to his family and friends.

I always looked out for his music related contributions they were superb and covered many genres.

He will be sadly missed on here.

Very sad news. Will be missed from this board. Condolences to all Hampstead’s family and friends.

Desperately sad news.

I always read his posts with interest, but never realised he was as old as that. However, as others have stated, 62 is no age. My deepest condolences to his friends and family.

RIP.

Awful news.
My sincere condolences to his family and friends.

Sorry to read this. I had a few 'debates' with him, but he didn't bear a grudge - I think that says a lot about him.

Sad news. Condolences to those who knew him.

Condolences to family, friends and loved ones. He was a poster who’s posts I noticed and enjoyed.

Further to my previous posting on this thread I now realise Micky must have been putting on a brave face the last couple of times we chatted. I feel incredibly sad about this, particularly for his son and family. RIP Micky...I will not forget you.

Don’t believe I knew him personally but the passing of any Claret is always sad and especially one so young. RIP Fellow Claret

RIP Hampstead, sad news

I did know Mick, St Albans and had some time with him this week thanks to his family.
Mick was obviously very ill but we talked about many things and his spirit was good.
Mick had just turned 64 this month and he was incredibly popular. Everyone at St John's Ivy Street and St Ted's would have had some great times in his company.
The tributes and respect shown to him are wonderful.

Must add my condolences to Hampsteads' family.
Sad news indeed and I, like many others, will miss his posts.

RIP Hampstead.

I don't think I agreed with him on anything but this is still sad news as he was an enthusiastic board member

RIP Hampers

I am very sorry and saddened to learn this news.
Hampstead Claret was a strong poster and important to this board.

Far to young at 62 too.

Condolences to the family.

Stunned by the news. I kept in fairly regular touch with him, but obviously not enough, and he never complained about a thing.

Enjoyed meeting up with him for a pint at away matches and in St Albans. It was his dream to move back to Burnley but was waiting for his son to start Uni. Always stuck to his true Labour values and we had many a discussion about politics, always polite and agreeing to disagree

He'll be a big loss at St Albans Clarets dinners.

Sincere condolences to Michael Jnr and all his family, all of whom he dearly loved and was proud of. Proud of his Irish roots too.

Rest in Peace mate

Adding my condolences to Hampstead's family and friends. RIP fellow claret.

A good poster, worth reading whether it was music or other topics.

Yes read his posts too
RIP Hampstead claret

RIP Hampstead Claret.

Very sad news, 60 is too young, Condolances to his family.

Condolences to Hampstead's family. I'm an old Ted's boy and our paths must have crossed in the sixties
RIP

Always sad to hear of another claret passing

RIP

I didn't know Hampstead but I felt I knew him.
I liked his input. Mainly music, but preferred his common sense approach.
RIP fellow Claret.
Just goes to show we have no idea what is around our corner, but i'm sure he knew how close his corner was.
Up The Clarets.

For Elizabeth.

Sorry for your loss and thanks for your contact.

Thanks bls.
I am one of Micks many friends and have known him since his first school day. My thoughts are with his family who I have known all his life. He was enormously loved by them all and they were with him until the end which will have brought him much comfort.

Wow! this is a shock,as many posters have commented 62 is too young,can't really add any more than pass my condolences on to his friends and family.

RIP Hampstead.

Like lovecurrypies I also had the impression from Hampstead’s post that he was a Ted’d lad from our era. Very sad news and way too young.

Met him a few weeks ago in the Bridge. He was with some friends of mine and said, "excuse me, and I apologize for asking, but do you post on up the Clarets?" I said I might do.....he said "are you called Siddo?" I was absolutely gobsmacked and we then started talking about our posts and how we posted mainly for a laugh and that we did admit to sometimes trying to wind certain people up. I remember telling him he was a legend, but now I will never know how he knew I was "Siddo".
R.I.P. mate you really were a legend on here and will be remembered by a lot of posters in posts of the future.

That is a terrible shock .I used to look forward to his posts...always interesting and well thought through .Hope it was a peaceful passing and wish his family and friends sincere condolences .

CaptainKirk wrote:Like lovecurrypies I also had the impression from Hampstead’s post that he was a Ted’d lad from our era. Very sad news and way too young.

Might have been his brother?