The sad news of the death of our chairman Mike Tole, will have reached most Civic Society members already, and the great loss to the society is being realised. Mike had served as a committee member since 1974, and had been Chairman for the last five years - a notable record of service! Yet these figures alone do not convey the vast amount of work undertaken by Mike on our behalf.

Having worked in the planning departments of Lichfield and Walsall he brought expert knowledge to so many matters which concerned our society, but to this was added tremendous energy and enthusiasm. In recent years his interests included the conservation of historic buildings, the pedestrianisation of Lichfield city centre, the care of Beacon Park and other open spaces, and the scale and quality of new housing developments as outlined in various county plans.

The Civic Society and the city of Lichfield have lost a committed and caring worker. He loved this city, and his constant concern was that it would continue to be a pleasant place in which to live.

Mary Lister
January 1999

[Postscript]

In March 2001 the Society funded a bench, with a plaque in memory of Mike Tole, in the newly created Millenium garden outside the Library on St John Street