Michael Ardron (1935 – 2025)

Here is a tribute to a character of Baines that we will never forget. He could be outspoken, humourous but always put the School first. As President of the Association he always encouraged me and when i thought things were slipping and the Association was going down he always jollied me along and gave me encouragement to weather the storm.  He will be a man that will be sorely missed as committee meetings and at the social events.

Michael’s relationship with Baines must be unique, his grandfather Mr Berry was a part time art teacher at the school. In the James Baines Room is a portrait of Sir William Hodgson that he drew in chalk (very apt in a school). Something that did not come to light until the portrait was found and mike said - that was done by my grandfather. Michael's father, Harry Ardron was a former pupil and a former President of the FPA.  Michael's younger brother Peter was also a a former pupil at the school. .Harry, his father, was a master iron monger and saw maker, a business that Michael was to go into after leaving Baines.

Michael joined the school in 1942 aged 7 and joined the Prep. as a private pupil from Devonshire Road School, Blackpool. He was living at 48 Mather Street at the time, with his parents at his grandmother’s house (Ivy Berry). 

As wartime traffic was almost non existent he came to school on a Fairy Cycle along Newton Drive trying to keep up with the "big boys". Mike was a great Baines enthusiast and did much both as a Governor and a member of the FPA to serve pupils' interests and promote the Baines ethic of work and self-reliance. His tales of school life at the time were fascinating.  the love of his life (so he thought was one of the women working in the canteen. He also related that when a pupil in the old wooden buildings pupils would sneak down the trap from one classroom into another classroom. 

He passed his 11+ and went into the Senior School and joined Hibbert House. In his time he was a good athlete and footballer.  He was also a good scouter and at the age of 10 was in the School Wolf Cubs as this snippet from the Poultonian shows:

He left school in 1951 to join the family ironmonger business and joined the then Old Boys Association and was a regular player for the football team and keen supporter of OB events. Mike promoted and organised many of the FPA functions. The Baines Bowling event (for members and partners) was one such event.  This trophy is now housed in the James Baines Room. The standard of bowling was immaterial as the "coveted" Lacquered Knacker Trophy" (a much adorned toilet ball-cock mounted on hardboard by Mike, inscribed in ballpoint) was awarded, usually, to some unsuspecting lady. It resided for some time on Ally's [alison Chapman – former headteacher] desk but is now on the top shelf of the Baines Room for all to see! Perhaps we should restart the bowling competition in his memory.

His sense of humour is legendary. He also hosted the annual BBQ on many occasions.

Mike was a member at St Annes Old Golf Course. Michael and Arnold Robins a member of the FPA and life long school chum played golf with him, when possible, twice a week for 30 odd years. Last year, Mike presented the Ardron Golf Trophy to the Baines Golf Society and we were both delighted to join them for 9 holes at Staining. Arnold and his wife Zena have been good friends with Mike & Colette (his wife) over the years and enjoyed joint holidays.

I remember Mike driving that old car of his, with every panel a different shade of blue !

Arnold last saw him a couple of weeks before his passing and though he was frail and bedridden we had a whispered conversation interspersed with humour about the joy we had from Baines and the companionship of golf at which point he reminded Arnold that he owed 61p outstanding arrears from golf. Sensing that this was likely, I produced said 61p. A smile appeared, Arnold and Mike gripped each others arms and said goodbye. A great friendship born through the Baines Family.

Can we ever forget that striped old boys school blazer. Michael a character that we will never forget !

When Baines went co-ed in 1978 , his daughter Zoe joined school followed by Robert later!

 

An obituary from Arnold Robins augmented by David Astall