It was only in May that Mick Breare and Jo Birkbeck organised the Y Type Register’s Spring run which was based at the Wroxton Country House Hotel near Banbury. Mick organised a fun quiz for them on one of the nights, and that is typical of the man he was, always willing to help out.
We last saw Mick just a couple of weeks ago at the first of our Alternative PoO nights at the Doghouse in Walton on the Hill. An occasion where he was proudly showing off his newly restored MG YB and was over the moon at winning the Car of the Show award.
Mick has owned several classics over the year including a Mercedes 280SE, two MGBs, a red 1968 MGCGT and a rare 1963 DKW1000S Deluxe. The latter of which was the subject of a talk he gave to the North Surrey Natter.
He was an enthusiastic engineer, having carried out most of the mechanical work on his YB, and over the last ten years had enjoyed getting back to MG life, particularly with the YB and attending monthly natters at the Doghouse and trips out with the Surrey Wanderers. He had enjoyed attending and organising MG events for the club and he and Jo were busy getting lost in France with some of our South East members on the EEOTY recently.
Latterly he and Jo had joined the Y Type Register committee. The Register paid tribute to him by postponing their AGM which was due to take place next weekend (4th July 2026).
Mick had won several awards with the South East Centre including the Social Championship for best attendance at Centre shows and events last year as well as PoO awards for his MGCGT. I am sure that his YB would continue to win awards this year as it was such a fine restoration. He was also given a special award in 2021 for his help with the distribution of the Centre newsletter. In the 1990s Mick and Ros would attend local natters at the Coulsdon Manor Hotel and was a regular entrant in the Alternative PoO. In 2000 and 2001 Mick was also a member of the South East Centre committee when Doug Bush was the chairman.
Mick was born in Lewisham in 1947 and has always been a South London boy finally living in Chaldon. He joined the Metropolitan Police and on retirement stayed on as a civilian with the Police. He was also working as a consultant for an Investigations company in Tunbridge Wells. When not investigating or with the car clubs, Mick liked nothing more than a spot of gardening, taking part in his local pub quiz, eating out or just enjoying a pint down his local pub.
Mick’s wife Rosalind passed away in 2021, they were married for 50 years and he has recently found new happiness with fellow Y Type owner Jo Birkbeck. He unexpectedly died whilst at home in Chaldon. Our condolences go to her and to Mick’s family
