Michael, who is 92, is a retired stock farmer living near Aberdeen. His birthday coincides with Accession Day on February 6^th, 1952 - the day that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II acceded to the throne after the sudden death of her father, King George VI. 

Michael's wife, Joan, died 13 years ago after they had been married for nearly six decades.  Four years ago, his neighbour, a volunteer tea party driver, encouraged him to join his local tea party group and he has been attending the monthly parties ever since.

“I must say I wasn’t totally convinced when it was suggested to me,” said Michael. “But I thought I’d join the throng and I’m very glad I did. They are very enjoyable events.

“It’s mostly ladies who go to them but that doesn’t put me off. I don’t feel at all restricted by them. We have some very good conversations, a lot to do with food, cooking and clothes. I like football so it would be good to talk about that a little more but I’m very happy, no matter what the discussion. If any gentlemen were thinking about coming along, I would definitely encourage them.

“I don’t have any family, so I live alone but I’m not lonely. I do woodwork and a bit of gardening, take short walks and read a lot, mostly autobiographies or war books. I like the factual stuff, certainly not romances!

“Naturally I miss my wife a great deal. We got married when we were both 31 so we had been together a long time. But I try to keep myself busy. I don’t want to sit around too much.

“I’ve always been active – of course I had to be, running a farm, looking after the sheep and cattle. My father was a farmer, so it’s in the family. When he died the farm passed to my older brother, as that’s the way things were. But that didn’t trouble me. I started my own farm and kept it going until I retired at 69.

“I still drive a bit but I’m always picked-up and dropped home when there’s a tea party. During Covid I missed going to them. The tea parties are another string to my bow.”