CHAIR OF SOUTHFIELDS GRID RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION – 1996 TO 2011
Mike Caswell MBE, former chair of the Southfields Grid Residents’ Association (SGRA), died on Tuesday 21 May in St George’s Hospital aged 91. The funeral will be held at St Barnabas Church, on Wednesday 12 June at 11.30am.
Mike was born in Portland, Dorset on 23 September 1932 and had been married to Valerie for 64 years. He came to Wandsworth in 1970 with his wife and two children when appointed Administration Officer at HM Prison Wandsworth and then later worked for over 25 years as a Higher Executive Officer in the House of Commons. Mike was awarded the MBE in the New Year Honours List 1997.
He was also known for being a great footballer and cricketer. Before he moved to London he had played for both Portland United Football Club and also Portland Red Triangle Cricket Club. After he moved to Wandsworth, Mike played football and cricket at Wandgas from 1970 for over thirty years.
After being a member of SGRA since the 1980’s, Mike became Chair in 1996, and continued to be its driving force until May 2011, when he finally stood down on grounds of age at 79.
Mike always had a ready listening ear, and a capacity for ensuring things got done. His easy-going manner made him very approachable, and he was a familiar figure out and about in Southfields, always with time for a chat. Apart from pursuing the day-to-day issues of paving and parking, he ensured the annual SGRA carol singing raised funds for local charities, that there was the annual SGRA party for the older residents, and the introduction of the then hugely popular, annual street softball competition. He gave the SGRA’s active support to forming the Southfields Business Forum.
After Mike stepped down from SGRA in 2011, our then-MP Justine Greening paid this tribute:
“I believe the local community owe a huge debt of gratitude to Mike for all his hard work. Over the years he has done a fantastic job bringing together local people, helping them shape their community. I am very proud to know Mike through this role, and I am sure he will continue to be a power for good locally for many years to come”.
Mike continued as a volunteer with Community Service Volunteers’ Retired & Senior Volunteer Programme. He was part of a team that recruited other older people in volunteering opportunities across London. Mike had a particular interest in health and social care related volunteering and visited numerous GP practices over the years to explain how the involvement of volunteers could benefit isolated patients. He set up and led a project where volunteers contributed to the training of medical students.
If you wish to read more of Mike’s earlier memories of SGRA – please click on this link which will take you to the relevant Grid News (Winter 2022) – page 11.
Finally, SGRA would like to pass on their sincere condolences to Mike’s family and friends. He will be missed.
Charles Runcie
Chair, Southfields Grid Residents’ Association
