Michael (Mike/Mick) Longland sadly passed away on Monday 10th March at Kingston hospital surrounded by his family after sadly losing his battle to pancreatic cancer.

Mike (our dad and loving husband) was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer on 10th January 2014 after some months of losing weight and suffering with stomach pains.  Dad decided although an aggressive cancer with a low survival rate he would fight this as he wanted more time with his wife, children and young grandchildren.

Unfortunately dad was just too weak, he struggled to eat which meant life as he knew it (red wine and curries and no doubt full English breakfasts at work) and just enjoying life was no longer possible. 

Dad begun to get sick and life changed.

Dad was sadly rushed into hospital on Friday 7th March and at 5am Saturday morning his wife of 40 years (50+ years of being  together) was told that he had hours to live.  The next 60 hours Mike spent surrounded by his loved ones who knew the end was near and was cherishing every last moment.  Mikes wife, two sons, daughter, brother in law and son and daughter in law who loved him dearly sat around his bedside and spoke of fond memories.  There was of course sadness as we realised we would no longer have this man in our lives anymore and that come summer we would not have the BEST BBQ chief ever to look after us.  But we laughed, we laughed at all the wonderful memories and funny times we had with dad, we laughed at all the times dad had moaned about something and we remembered the good times (which there were many).

Life as we once knew it has gone and a new life without dad will begin but I think fair to say he will NEVER be forgotten and he will live on in his children and grandchildren who are the people they are because of the wonderful role model we was.

Mum has decided flowers isn't what dad wanted, dad would want this cancer to be beaten and it won't be tomorrow or next week but it will happen and knowing that dad has done something to help this would make it somewhat easier.

Give if you can.  Come to the funeral on Friday 28th March at the crematorium in lower Morden (north east Surrey crematorium) and share your stories and let's celebrate dad's 65 years with us.

RIP Dad/Pa/Mike/Michael/Mick/ dear friend you were one hell of a man and once met you were never forgotten.  We will love and miss you forever xxxx