Michael "Mick" Freer (Rattler)

[Dunk]

Devastating news for Stuart and all the family.

Mick was a true Gent, an aviation legend who will be sorely missed by many, and by those who frequent these boards.

I had a the pleasure of meeting Mick a number of times, his smile and personality brightened up any dull day at the fence.

RIP Mick, gone but not forgotten.

Dunk

[GOOSE]

I saw Graham's Facebook post earlier and feared the worst. Blue skies Mick, blue skies.........and thank you for all the kind words over the years

[Richard B]

Very sad news, Mick was a top chap and a true gent, one of the old school.
would be nice if people could tie a yellow ribbon on every base fence over the next week.

[Scuba 11]

Sad news, RIP Mick, a true Gent. Condolences to Stu and the Family.

[bigcrow]

Very sad news, Mick was a top chap and a true gent, one of the old school.
would be nice if people could tie a yellow ribbon on every base fence over the next week.

Thank you Craig & others for the kind words they really do mean a lot.. It's devastating news, he will be sorely missed yes he was my dad, but my sole mate as well.. The yellow ribbon would be a lovely gesture.. RIP Dad... xxx

[Blackcat1]

Havent been on FC for a few days but saw the post on facebook today but didnt realise it was Rattler! only commented on 1 of his messages earlier today, before i read this post! such sad news, never met the man, but terrible to lose a member of this great hobby, god bless Mick F. My condolences to his family and friends.

[Glenn Beasley]

As others have rightly said, Mick was a true gent of this hobby I will miss his company on the fence at many a base around the country. A very sad loss to our hobby and my thoughts are very much with Stu and his family right now.

[GOOSE]

would be nice if people could tie a yellow ribbon on every base fence over the next week.

I'll do Waddo by 10.00 am Wednesday, but at a location he'd have approved of

[tim_3216]

I’m saddened to hear the news of Mick’s passing.

I got to know Mick well in the late 90s through twice monthly meetings at the Brandycask pub in Pershore, which was supposedly an aviation club meeting, but was more like the Mick Freer fan club. Every club night we were treated to at least two carousels of kodachrome from Mick’s vast and unrivalled military aviation collection. His slide shows were stunning both in terms of content and photographic skill, all from a pre-digital, pre-autofocus era. It was a privilege to have Mick share his collection with us, and I know he took great pleasure in doing so.

Since moving away from Worcestershire 8 years ago I’d regrettably lost touch with Mick, so this news comes as a great shock. To me he was an enthusiast with an encyclopaedic knowledge of military aviation, a naturally gifted photographer and all round good bloke with a wicked sense of humour. He truly was an inspiration and will be missed by all who knew him.

My thoughts are with Stu and the family.

RIP MF

Tim H

[Zymurgy661]

I had the pleasure of meeting Mick for the first time at Abbo this year and he came across as one of the most genuine and friendly people i have met.

Thoughts and concolences to Stu and family during this tough time

[IanH]

I first met Mick when my father took me to Alconbury number crunching as a lad during the early 70s. Alconbury then was surrounded by a roll of barbed wire but the regulars knew about Owl End and Mick told me about it. Sadly no camera then for me unlike Mick who was ahead of the game on this compared to many. Those were the days when you could turn up on a Saturday to find all sorts of European Phantoms scattered around in amongst the based F-4s and later F-5s. As the years progressed and Stu got older (hard to believe I know ), Mick and Stu became a double act you were always pleased to see. When you met, that tended to be where you 'plonked' yourself down for the day. They were such good fun and with Mick as the knowledgeable father figure, you knew you were in for a good day. Mick was such a decent, humorous and easy going man. He would often recall aircraft of the past but not in a way you would expect. It was never I saw this or that, it was far more impressionable in the sense that he described what it was like watching a certain aircraft or types 'beat up' an airfield etc. So much so that you could imagine you were there with him. You see Mick was from a different era taking time to appreciate the event, never taking it for granted. This was a time when you had to stand your ground photographing and making logs often unlike today. In this respect Mick was for me one of the pioneers of a hobby we too often see as our own. The current level of acceptance around the UK etc has been earned and for me we owe this to the groundwork of a few like Mick.

Aviation was very much Mick`s passion and it was like he`d set out to take time and reflect on each event before moving on. As a writer and reporter, Mick was up there with the best. In the days when photographer of military aircraft was rare and you very rarely saw anything, Mick`s metiuclous log taking and recording helped support aviation journals like SWAG MAG, NAGMAG, BARG and others which helped define and direct our hobby today. Mick supported and provided reviews and reports plus images to many major global magazines over many years and he was an extremely talented photographer. He used to make me laugh at times watching him getting in amongst it. When he was on official duty with a cap on, it was always the right way round. Press out of the way, Mick`s hat was always worn rim to the back....he was like the all American tennis player....invariably wearing shorts. A youngster at heart our Mick. Irrespective of age or gender, another of Mick`s skills was his ability to make you feel welcome and important. He would chat to anyone and he was always polite, unassuming and above all else humble....no side with Mick. Mick`s support for aviation events was again legendary. Duxford, RIAT were always close to his heart and there are few around who can say they attended every Air Tattoo, IAT and the RIAT from 1972 through to 2012 (sadly he was too ill to attend this year as we all hoped). Perhaps a special mention for Mick at RIAT 2014 if anyone is watching....it would be well deserved. He managed to get to us last year at Marston Meysey through sheer dogged will power.....although with a twinkle in his eye he did inform us he chatted up the nice ladies at the Hospital to let him out early from treatment so he could attend). That was Mick all over; he had enormous inner strength and a will to enjoy life like few others I`ve had the pleasure of meeting. Even though he was very ill, he never once complained.

Mick was a thoroughly decent man. For me, one of life`s treasures and the aviation world will miss him. Before signing off, there is one RIAT photo I will always cherish in my mind and its of the special marked F-1 formerly based at Colmar arriving at Fairford the year the base was swamped. You could barely see the aircraft landing it was raining so hard as it came around the loop at Marston Meysey. I know the pilot considered it was one of the toughest conditions he`d experienced but he was an F-1 pilot so pretty tough. As everyone scarpered to get out the rain, Mick moved a little but stayed put as if to say, he`s made it here, I`ll make sure i`m here to remember it. When asked where he took the photo Mick confirmed he took it from the entrance of the toilet. He certainly had the eye for a shot!

God bless Mick and of course his loving family. Fondest regards, Ian

[PhilD]

Shocked to hear this sad news. As has been said a real true gent of the old school. RIP Mick. Condolences to Stu and family.

PhilD

[Flyingmonster]

Blue Skies Sir....

[bigcrow]

Thanks guys for the kind words. Ian that is a wonderful piece. You've hit the nail on the head that's just how he was. Thank for this Ian... Stu

[Seahawk 11]

So so sorry to hear about Mick, I have known him for about thirty years or so now, a real top man in all respects, I saw him last at the Defford charity fly-in back on june 1st this year, still with two cameras around his neck and a smile on his face,
our thoughts are with all the family at this time,
blue skies Mick,
Rob and the boys at Hereford

[Fighterfoto]

May I add my condolences to Stu and all Mick's family and friends and thanks to Ian for his erudite and heartfelt tribute. I got to know Mick on the fence at Heyford and whenever I bumped into him over the years he was always cheery with an infectious enthusiasm which never failed to brighten one's day. RIP mate.

[Jabba]

I have to confess I never knew Mick but from what's been said he sounds like the kind of old school gent it would have been a pleasure to meet at the fence line or anywhere for that matter. For those that did know him I feel your pain having recently lost my best mate (Swingy) who was himself a significant contributor to these forums. My condolences to family and friends.

[lmgaylard]

I'm so sorry to Mike's family and friends on their sad loss.

I never had the pleasure to meet him but luckily I did chat to him a bit through emails. He very kindly allowed me to use a lot of his photos in my book and I know he is responsible for what many, and all the early SHAR community, regard as one of the most iconic photos of the Sea Harrier at Yeovilton!!

Please pass on my condolences to his family for me, I will still send a copy of the book to his family even though Mick said it wasn't necessary.....



Copyright@ Mike Freer by Lewis Gaylard, on Flickr

This is the iconic image I was talking about. Remember, this was 1979 and no digital cameras.

Thank you Mick.......

[Vulcanone]

Afternoon all,


Deepest condolences to Stu and all Mick's family and friends.


I only ever met him a couple of times, and if memory serves he was introduced to me by another true aviation gentleman (the sadly missed ex assistant editor of Flypast - Robert Rudhall)

R.I.P Gents

Tim Senior

[andyxh558]

My deepest condolences to Stuart and his family. Mick was a great photographer and one of his pictures I will remember for the rest of my life and that is the one they used to use of Vulcan XL319 where the pic of the Sea Harrier was at yeovilton in the Woodford airshow programs.

My thoughts are with all the family and friends. A true talent lost.

Blue Skies Sir.