The Haileybury Society is saddened to learn of the death of Michael George Morton (Aby 43) who has died on 23rd September 2023, aged 94.

Michael was born in Chorleywood and had 3 sisters (one of whom died in infancy). He was Head Boy and Captain of cricket at his primary School, Beaumont House.

Haileybury, sport and missiles

He joined Haileybury Middle School in September 1943, living in Allenby House. He remembered the V1 flying bomb attacks (one just missing the domed roof of the Chapel) and the V2 rocket missiles.

He spent a lot of time on the sports scene playing squash, fives, hockey, tennis, rugby, swimming and his main love – cricket. He was proud to have obtained 1^st XI cricket colours; his highlight was playing at Lord’s against Cheltenham College in a two day match which they won by 9 wickets!

National Service

He left Haileybury in July 1947 and was called up to do National Service in the RAF. He secured a job with Royal Insurance to start after his National Service was completed (1949).

In the RAF he gave aptitude tests to aircrew candidates which he found most interesting as there was established to be a direct link between the test results and the level of success in the subsequent flying training programmes of those who had passed the stringent examination.

Career in insurance

Michael spent his whole career in insurance, rising to senior management, latterly with Ecclesiastical Insurance Group. He was a member of the Chartered Insurance Institute, served on several Councils of local Insurance Institutes and was President of the Insurance Institute of Gloucester 1981 -2.

Personal life

He married Rosemary in 1952 and continued his sporting activities, taking up golf as well. They had 2 children, David and Janet and were blessed with 3 grandchildren, 5 step grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren and 6 step great grandchildren!

Following retirement in 1990 they travelled extensively, including many cruises and over 30 years visiting Madeira annually. They enjoyed over 71 years of happy marriage; Rosemary was at his side when he died.

He will be greatly missed by his family and all his friends, to whom the Haileybury Society sends its deepest condolences.