MITCH MITCHENER 

Mitch

Here is the commemoration address that was read at Mitch's funeral in Crawley on June 18.

Mitch has been referred to as a big personality and he certainly made his presence known. A hard working man who wanted to achieve the best for himself and his family.

He had a very strong work ethic and had two precision engineering companies.  He would regularly put in long hours at the factory, tool making, and at home doing the books and administration.   The family were often involved in driving to meet clients or dropping off work to meet deadlines.  Through his need for further involvement, he joined the Founders Company and the Masons and enjoyed the meetings and social aspects these groups offered.

He was also physically strong doing many jobs himself in the house and garden - the perimeter brick wall, the york stone walls, the terrazzo path and the digging of the cellar. These were some of his many projects. The perfectionist in him meant these were time consuming and lengthy.  Who can forget the greenhouse - a work in progress for nearly thirty years.

Mitch was musical as well - being in a choir as a boy and in later life joining the Croydon male voice choir.  Did you know that he also played the guitar in a skiffle band in the 50's? And he and Esme regularly went ballroom dancing.

His family were very dog friendly - when first married there was a black cocker spaniel called Quin and, after the appropriate doggy life span, Quin the second. And then came the Weimaraners - Benjamin was a big part of his life and led him into the competitive world of showing and obedience in which they were very successful winning dozens of rosettes and placings. 
Scuba diving, swimming, sailing, skiing, shooting, foreign travel - he embraced many different aspects and enjoyed them to the fullest.

Mitch must have assumed he would live into his hundreds given his remarks on future projects.  No-one ever doubted he had the physical strength to do so, but other factors came into play and stopping at 90 seems a reasonable compromise.