24th May 2017
It is with great sadness that I have to inform you that our President and Founder Member, Dr Mike Bruton MBE, died in the afternoon of Wednesday 24th May having suffered from several bouts of pneumonia and a short period of time in hospital.
His son, Roger, tells me:
Dad passed away peacefully at home with family members around him.
I remember that Dad was very active in the Disabled Ramblers and enthusiastic about promoting access to the countryside for all. I have lots of photos of Dad out and about including quite inaccessible places.
Dad’s funeral is taking place at 2pm on Thursday 15th June at the Oxford Crematorium, Headington OX3 9RZ followed by a reception at St Nicholas Church Hall, lsfield Rd, Old Marston, Oxford OX3 0PR from 3-5.30pm.
The intention is that the service and reception will give everyone an opportunity to celebrate Dad’s life and share memories of him.
No flowers by request and donations to Muscular Dystrophy UK charity.
MIKE BRUTON MBE
We first met Mike Bruton at the 1998 Mobility Roadshow in Crowthorne. He was manning a stand at the show with Karoline O’Neill to promote the newly constituted Disabled Ramblers (previously known as the Countryside Access Group). His engaging personality immediately impressed us. He spoke with such enthusiasm about his aim of enabling people with disabilities to enjoy the delights of rambling in the countryside, and described his experiences since his first organised ramble in 1992. We had always been keen ramblers and we were very excited by the prospect of continuing to enjoy the countryside now that Dorothy had become disabled, so we joined straight away.
What followed from this first contact transformed our lives in many ways. Mike’s leadership was inspirational and his calm, kind and considerate manner gave so many people the confidence to be more adventurous and widen their view on what could be possible for them to achieve. Nobody was turned away whatever their physical disability might be. The organised rambles not only gave us a real sense of achievement but also provided a joyful social experience. Mike’s natural charm and persuasiveness also succeeded in encouraging members to take on committee work and other tasks necessary for the smooth running of the group.
His key partnership with Robin Helby provided technical brilliance and a genuine spirit of adventure to complement Mike’s political diplomacy and campaigning zeal. Their work together raised the awareness-levels of government agencies and decision makers, resulting in the many countryside access improvements achieved by Disabled Ramblers.
The fact that Disabled Ramblers has now lasted 20 years and has gone from strength to strength is in no small measure due to this remarkable man’s dedication in the early years and Mike’s MBE was a well-deserved recognition of his work.
May he now rest in peace? Tony & Dorothy Dickens
We are so sorry to hear the news that Mike Bruton has passed away. We didn’t know him personally, but without him and the original team of founder members who helped him develop Disabled Ramblers we wouldn’t have the chance to belong to this great group where we meet such a wide and diverse amount of people. We have a lot to thank Mike for and will always be very grateful he was so courageous and far thinking in spite of his own disability. Val and Bob
This is the saddest of news, I have been very gratefully reflective this morning. Dr Bruton’s ‘vision’ has opened up the countryside to the disabled as well as creating a brilliant ‘get-up & go’ community in DRO. I am so very sorry, for people like myself Mike will always be an inspirational legend. Charles
Thank you for letting me know. I knew Mike quite well – particularly when he was Mayor of RBWM. A great enthusiast for rambling and disability rights and access generally. A good man. Best, John J
Thank you for letting us know about Mike – a sad loss. Since I joined DR he has been ‘disabled rambling king’ At first, in the 90’s, to spark interest in the new outfit in Maidenhead we encouraged members of the Shopmobility scheme to join us and gradually expanded from there. Mike was very active in local politics being a member of the local District Council and eventually, Mayor of Windsor & Maidenhead – a very prestigious post. This had a beneficial spin-off for DR – e.g. special way in to Windsor Great Park and use of Cumberland Lodge. I remember also having lunch in the building at Dorney Lake (used for the 2012 Olympics) and meeting some of the very fit rowing teams for the World Rowing Championship taking place there. What a contrast with us DR members! Mike was cheerful and encouraging despite his physical handicaps – a wonderful man. Brenda Harris
So sorry to hear of Dr Mike Bruton’s death.
It was through him and the organisation he helped set up that I was inspired to return
to the hills which I thought was something beyond me with my disabilities. Chris Greening (Copeland MS Society and Disabled Ramblers)
DR MIKE BRUTON MBE
Mike Bruton suffered from Charcot Marie Tooth (CMT) a hereditary muscle wasting disease. From what he told me, on various occasions, it did not strike him until he reached his late twenties. Before this he had been a keen walker and cyclist. He often pointed out to me, on our rambles, places he had visited in those days.
Mike worked for British Airways (BA) in various Information Technology roles, where I first came into contact with him. At first I just knew him as a project manager with whom I had little contact. This all changed in September 1990 when Mike asked for volunteers to pull him along the Ridgeway Path in a chariot made by BA apprentices. His idea was to get groups of volunteers to pull the chariot for some 10 miles each to publicise CMT and raise some funds: this we did, often at a sharp trot on a very warm day. Mike survived in his aircraft seat (not 1st class) much better than the rest of us.
This event was followed by an annual ramble on the Ridgeway organised by Mike and supported by the AA. We always had one of their vans with us to do running repairs much needed as buggies were not then as reliable as now. This went on for some ten years up until the Disable Drivers group was formed which was to morph into the Disabled Ramblers.
Mike’s last task at BA was as manager of a project based in Saudi Arabia which involved him in a lot of travel to that country which he did in spite of increasing muscle weakness.
After Mike retired I lost contact with him until just before my own retirement when he rang me asking if I could assist with his next great project a trip down the Thames Path from Oxford to Maidenhead, his home town of which he was later to become mayor. Four disabled, one of whom was Robin Helby, were to take part with three helpers.
I will not go into details about the expedition but one incident which shows Mike’s attitude to life will always stand out in my mind:
We had come, very near the day’s end, down, somewhat warily, a very steep slope into what was almost a ravine and were then confronted on reaching the bottom by a flight of horse steps. We managed to haul the buggies to the top but how could we get Mike up. He had a solution to slide up on his bottom, grinning broadly, using some ramps we had with us – problem solved. At the end of the walk Mike had arranged a meeting with members of the great and good. Mike had an ability to draw in all sorts of contacts if he felt they would help his cause.
The last time I saw Mike was some six months after his first wife had died. A number of his ex-work colleagues had arranged a lunch at a pub to cheer him up a bit. Mike arrived and made an announcement – he was to remarry! Jaws dropped – how typical of Mike – he will always be much missed.
I will finish with a couple of anecdotes from others showing Mike’s attitude to life:
In earlier times I worked with Mike on a project and we were in joint arrangements with the Swiss and the Dutch – lots of travelling to Europe – Mike never missed a trip. But one of my lasting memories was of Mike slipping and falling badly in a slippery Zurich subway. I, of course, rushed to help him but he absolutely refused help and returned to the upright position with the aid of his two sticks. Bruised and breathless he marched on, and he would not speak of it, so typical of Mike in everything he did!
My experience of crossing the main road between our hotel and the Saudia compound (a road of many unmarked virtual “lanes” carrying chaotic traffic) which at first I almost dreaded crossing it. But the first time I did it with Mike he just held up his walking stick. Stepped limping slightly into the road expecting the traffic to stop for him – and it did – problem solved. John Birmingham
You can read more about Mike’s life on our History page.