4th January 2025
Michael Timperley remembers Mick Owen:
The sad news of Mick's passing caused me to reminisce about our friendship at school where we were in the same class from 1958. Always known by his form mates as Mick, just as I was known as Eric on account of there being 5 or 6 Michaels in our class. He and I were keen on cars from an early age and used to go together to Earls Court every year for the Motor Show. He bought an Austin Chummy and one day I drove 4 of us (me, Owen, Taylor and Foy) to a pub in Chesham where we had a couple of pints. On leaving the car park I hit another car and it was then that I was considered “wayward”! Parents were summoned and last warnings were given.
Mick took it all in good heart and dined out on the story for years to come.
Fiercely intelligent and liberal of thought, Mick sailed easily through school and is one of the few students to have gained a place at Oxford.
We kept in touch through the SNOBS rugby club every Saturday and went on rugby tours to France together until 1972 when I moved to Brussels. I hung up my rugby boots around 1975 but Mick continued and as has been mentioned played in France as a professional. I visited him and Laurence a couple of times in Rue de la Convention, Paris and was shocked to hear of her eventual demise.
The last few hours have brought back these amusing memories and if there are more I will write them down.
May he rest in peace.
Old Boys Newsletter No. 35. 24th September 1973
Congratulations to flanker Mick Owen who has been selected to represent Middlesex Clubs in a match on Wednesday. He is the first O.B. to attain this distinction.
