Today we popped in to the motorbike museum at Battlesbridge to pass on the news that Michael-Next-Door, also known as Mick and Mr Shed, had passed away. Some of his friends pictured had known Michael for more than 60 years and we each found that we held some, but by no means many and nowhere near all of the jigsaw pieces making up Michael's life. Michael was a remarkable, eccentric, talented man who could do most things well (apart from playing the saxophone). I don't know of many people who can build cars, make x-ray machines, race dragsters, fly planes, sail boats, build houses, persist through sheer obstinacy with a black & white TV, do the washing in a cement mixer, be clothed exclusively in Hawaiian shirts, be passionately anti-establishment, have an encyclopaedic knowledge of all things vehicular, have an address of "The Field" and maintain a mischievous, winning smile. He shall be missed.