My friend Mike Lockwood, who has died aged 68, had an exuberant personality and loved boats, surfing and music. He had two degrees, one in philosophy and the second in naval architecture, and was highly regarded as an engineer in the gas industry.
Son of Ken, a customs officer, and Jo, a social worker, Mike was born in Gravesend, Kent. After leaving Gravesend grammar school for boys, he went to the newly established University of Kent at Canterbury, where he studied philosophy. There he met Annie Farmery and they married in 1973.
After graduating, they spent a year teaching in London, but soon realised this was not the life they wanted. Mike had always been fascinated by boats: he once attempted to water-ski across the Channel for charity, but had to stop two-thirds of the way across when the boat pulling him was put out of action by a fouled rudder. When he was still a teenager, with the encouragement of his father he had even designed a powerboat that went into production.
Mike managed to get a second grant, and with Annie moved to Newcastle, where he completed a degree in naval architecture at the university that enabled him to find work with a local shipbuilder’s. When the company went out of business, Mike started a new career as an engineer in the gas industry and built up a formidable reputation. He later set up his own consultancy.
Mike and Annie cared deeply about helping others. Annie campaigned for women’s rights, and became a Labour councillor. There was talk of her standing as an MP, but her ambitions were cut short when she was diagnosed with cancer. In the time that was left before she died, aged 50, Mike and Annie travelled to as many countries as they could.
After Annie’s death, Mike went through a period of depression. At the same time a family friend, Wanda Parker, was experiencing the turmoil of divorce. They helped and supported each other through difficult times and eventually, in 2005, they married; Mike became devoted to Wanda’s three children, Hannah, Felicity and Henryk, and granddaughter, Jacqueline.
Mike and Wanda frequently stayed with me and my wife, Pat, and we went on wonderful holidays together. In the evenings Mike would often venture out to find a bar with live music. We will never forget one occasion in North Conway in New Hampshire, when a restaurant was holding an open mic event. Mike was in his element: he picked up a guitar and joined in with some local musicians and then sang one of his own compositions.
Mike said that he had always been prone to episodes of pensiveness, but a severe bout of ill health left him exhausted and this, together with some loss of purpose after he stopped his consultancy work, led to the depression that caused him to take his own life.
He is survived by Wanda, Hannah, Felicity, Henryk and Jacqueline, and his mother, Jo, and sister, Jill.
