In memory of Michael (Mike) John Edward Elphick.  Mike led a life dedicated to service, caring for others, nurturing and investing in future generations.   He was a trusted, dependable, wise and cherished husband, brother, father, grandfather, social worker, listener, counsellor, secretary, chairman, fundraiser and friend.  He will be greatly missed.  

The family would love to hear your memories of Mike.  He lived a rich life, with many interests, achievements and friendships.  Some of you may have photos and memories of him in his leisure, charitable work and other pursuits.  Please add your stories, thoughts or pictures by clicking on one of the links in the Contribute section below to help remember and celebrate Mike’s life.  

Mike was the eldest son of Alice Mary Elphick (née Rowe) and Albert Edward Elphick.  He was born in Redhill Hospital, Edgware, North London on 14th Nov 1942.  ‘Mick’, as he was known to the family, grew up, with brother Peter and sister Alison, in Bermuda House, Mount Park Road, Harrow, which was a nursing home run by their parents. 

The family attended Harrow Baptist Church and Mike went to Orley Farm Preparatory School and University College School, in Hampstead, gaining 5 O’ Levels.  At school he enjoyed rowing and in the church youth choir he began his love of singing.  This is perhaps where his life of service began, volunteering with the Shipmates Boys Club for underprivileged boys at Harrow Baptist Church. 

On leaving school in 1960, Mike spent 2 years working at a camp in Dortmund, Germany.  As the Berlin Wall was erected, he welcomed refugees fleeing the Soviet regime.  He then spent a year in Italy working at an orphanage in Rome and for a Christian mission providing aid to impoverished areas in southern Italy.  On returning to London, Mike continued to work in a caring role, as a Housefather for the Spastic Society.  He moved to Devon in 1965 to take up the post of Welfare Assistant for Devon County Council. 

He married childhood sweetheart Jill Margaret Richards on 16 July 1966 at Harrow Baptist Church, and Jill joined him in Devon.  They moved a lot over the next few years – first to Bristol, where Mike studied for 2 years gaining his Certificate in Social Work in 1969. They then returned to the Southwest and Mike worked for Devon County Council as a Social Worker, although they lived over the border in Callington, Cornwall.  This is where son Jonathan was born in 1970.  They were soon on the move again to Cheshire, a promotion to Senior Social Worker for Mike and the birth of daughter Helen in 1972. 

In 1974, another promotion for Mike to Area Manager of Social Services necessitated another move, this time to North Shields, North Tyneside.  Jonathan and Helen started school, and the family put down roots for many years, attending St Columba's United Reform Church, and making many life-long friends.   Jill and Mike shared their home with numerous children in need of their love and care, as foster parents and through a holiday scheme for under privileged children.   

Mike worked for North Tyneside Council in various Social Work Management roles for 23 years. One of his workmates remembers Mike as being a wonderfully supportive colleague and “someone I learned a great deal from”.  Mike worked long hours, trying to do his best for the people he served with the limited resources at his disposal.  When he discovered needs the Council couldn’t address, he joined or founded numerous voluntary organisations to try to plug these gaps. These are just some of the organisations Mike committed his time, energies and expertise to during his years in North Shields: 

 • The Cedarwood Trust providing a community centre and services on the Meadowell Estate in North Shields. Mike was one of the founders of the Trust in 1980 and was heavily involved for many years. Even after retiring to Longhirst, he continued to support The Cedarwood Trust through the annual Christmas Toy Service he arranged in St John’s Church with all the toys being donated to The Trust for families in need.  

 • Tynemouth Village Day Centre for elderly people, which was opened by Princess Diana in 1987.  Mike was a founder of the Centre and served on the board of trustees until his death. 

 • Gateshead Music Collective, a group of teenage punks Mike met through his involvement with the Prince’s Trust.  Mike helped the group secure funding and permissions for their music club called The Station in a former police social club. Gateshead Council required a responsible adult to be present on site when the club operated and for years, Mike was one of the adults fulfilling this role. 

 • The Marriage Guidance Council in the Northeast – which later became Relate.  Mike was chair of this charity’s Northumberland and Tyneside branch board of trustees for many years and provided training sessions for new counsellors. 

 • The Listening Post, a drop-in counselling service at Brunswick Methodist Church in Newcastle. Mike was part of the training team of six who coordinated the advertising, selection and training of volunteers. 

As the rest of the world embraced the 1980s, Mike’s fashion sense didn’t leave the 1970’s - flares, elbow patches and he smoked a pipe!  Mike would usually come home for family dinners, before sometimes going out again to do his voluntary work.  Despite his busy schedule, he would make time to help Jonathan and Helen with homework or listen to their problems. He enjoyed discussing Shakespeare when Helen was studying English Literature, but would do his best, no matter the subject.  As Jonathan and Helen studied for GCSEs and A’Levels, Mike went to University, studying part time for a Masters in Business Management at Newcastle University. 

Mike loved DIY and encouraged Jonathan’s interest by having him as an apprentice in numerous home projects.  Over the years, their roles reversed and Mike would come to call on Jonathan’s engineering expertise.  A passion for gardening was something Mike inherited from his father.  His greenhouse became Mike’s sanctuary from his busy life – morning or evening he would find a few minutes to tend his seedlings.  He had an allotment and got all the children involved for quite a few years, until they became teenagers and lost interest!  Although they still loved to eat the fresh strawberries and peas from the pod.   

In 1991, Mike’s younger brother Peter died in a tragic accident leaving 3 young children. Mike stepped in, offering his nephews and niece what support and guidance he could.   

Throughout the 1990’s, Jill and Mike took great pride in watching Jonathan and Helen, graduate from university, begin their careers and each get married.  They enjoyed the opportunity to visit Helen when she lived in Zimbabwe, rekindling Mike’s love of foreign travel. Over the next decades, Mike returned to Germany and Italy, this time with Jill and they explored more of Europe. They traced family history in Canada and visited Helen in the USA.   Mike’s children still enjoyed telling him about their work, as he was such a curious and helpful listener.  He even proof-read Jon’s entire PhD thesis on fault tolerant helicopter flight control systems! 

In 1994, as they neared retirement, Jill and Mike moved to Howarth Cottage, Longhirst, where they quickly made friends and joined in with community life.  Their empty nest afforded them more time for each other and for shared interests.  They began renovating Howarth Cottage and garden, Mike got an allotment and they joined the Mid Northumberland Chorus together.  Longhirst Hall was a campus of Newcastle University and Jill and Mike made friends with lots of international students, helping them adjust to life in Northumberland.  When Mike retired in 1997, he became a trustee of Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust as well as continuing many of his voluntary roles in North Shields.   

As a new century dawned, Jill and Mike were delighted to become grandparents, with 3 wonderful granddaughters arriving over the next 3 years. The icing on the cake was when first Jonathan and then Helen moved their families back to live in the North East so Jill and Mike could be active grandparents, close to all 3 girls.  Mike would share his love of fishing, gardening, reading, crosswords, birdwatching, and so much more with his granddaughters. 

Gradually, Mike took on more responsibilities in the village, becoming Church Warden and secretary to the Parochial Church Council (PCC).  As secretary for the Village Hall, he successfully applied for thousands of pounds in grants to refurbish the building.   Mike’s love of learning continued, with his active membership U3A.  With Jill, he helped establish the Longhirst Open Gardens events, the Lunch Club and many more village activities.  Jill and Mike would often be the first to welcome new residents and visitors to the village.  

In 2019, Jill was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and Mike cared for her, with the help of Helen and Jonathan, until she passed away 9 months later.  They had been married for 55 years, having first met as children more than 70 years earlier.  It is impossible to put into words how devastated and lost Mike was. 

In the last few years, Mike had found new strength and purpose, returning to many of his former activities and enjoying several new ones, such as sailing with Jonathan, piano lessons, Tai chi and Pilates.  He has also helped to establish the Longhirst Wildlife and Community Trust. 

Mike suffered a pulmonary embolism and passed away suddenly at home in the early hours of Wed 9th April 2025.  During his last days, he had sung in a lovely concert with the Mid Northumberland Chorus attended by his children and many dear friends.  The concert included Haydn's Nelson Mass and The Creation.  He had spent time on his allotment, seen family and friends, as well as taking care of matters at the village hall and church.   

Mike will be remembered for his unwavering commitment to the causes he believed in, his enthusiasm for the things he enjoyed, and his great love for his family and friends.  He is at peace and at last reunited with Jill.