TRIBUTES have been paid to a man whose 'generosity knew no bounds' and was known by colleagues as the company 'fixer'.

Mike Thomas sadly passed away last month aged 79 years old.

He was born in Oswestry and lived there all his life and was very well known in the town.

He was married to Pam for 53 years, they were married at Christ Church, Oswestry on May 30, 1970. He had one daughter Claire, two grandsons Blake, aged 20, and Joel, 13, and son-in-law Paul. He also had a sister Jan and niece Samantha.

Mike joined Woodall’s Newspapers (latterly North Wales Newspapers and now Newsquest, publishers of the Oswestry and Border Counties Advertizer and The Leader) in August 1960 aged 16.

He started on the linotype machines as a mechanic and was naturally gifted not only in the fixing of the mechanics and electricals but also in fixing of folk through his generosity and understanding.

He was based in Caxton Press, Oswald Road until the company moved to Mold in 1988.

Mike also spent a lot of time chatting to his colleagues, selling his football pools coupons, and organising lottery syndicates!

A memorable day at North Wales Newspapers was when he met Prince (now King) Charles in April 2008 when he came to open the new press centre in Deeside.

Mike loved his job so much that he worked there for 49 years until his retirement in 2009. And right up until 2023, he was still organising regular get-togethers for ex-NWN staff so they could catch up and reminisce.

He loved football and most sports and was a season ticket holder at TNS. Prior to this he was involved with Oswestry Town FC and was Vice President of the club in 1982.

He played squash and badminton throughout his life and was still playing badminton this year.

He enjoyed travelling and once flew on Concorde.

Post retirement he travelled to Australia five times, Singapore, Hong Kong, and various locations in America including Florida, California, New York and Hawaii.

In recent years he would often be seen with Pam out on walks around Oswestry with his trusty walking stick.

He was a kind, caring, lovely man who would always help out others. He was very proud of his family, particularly his two grandsons.

Regional editor for Newsquest North Wales and former Oswestry Advertizer editor Susan Perry said: "Mike was always cheerful and would enter the room with the words 'I'm here!'

"Anything he was asked to fix he would put the date and his initials on it so there are buildings around the North Wales area where he has certainly left his mark!

"He will be missed by all his former colleagues and our deepest sympathy goes to Pam, Claire, the boys and his family."

Nonna Woodward, whose family owned North Wales Newspapers and was a former company director said: "He was one in a million and never was there a truer personification of a Christian soul."

Following a private cremation on Tuesday, December 12 at Pentrebychan, Wrexham, Mike's family have asked people to join them at Christchurch, Oswestry at noon for a Thanksgiving service to celebrate his life. This will be followed by a gathering for food and drink at Wilson's at the Wynnstay Hotel, Oswestry.

It was Mike's request that colourful clothing be worn, no flowers please but donations to Midland Air Ambulance and Severn Hospice.