Mick Bull’s funeral on 4th July 2025
The Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Michael David Bull M.B.E. was held on 4th July 2025 at The Church of St. James the Greater, London Road, Leicester and conducted by Reverend Andrew Quigley. Mike was born on 13th July 1049 and died on 7th June 2025.
Tributes were given by the following:
*William Woolley knew Mike from when they both attended Medway Primary School . He was a lifelong friend, only losing contact when, Mike did his teacher training at the College of St Mark and St John in London. He described his close friendship with this wonderful man who had been born and lived all his life on Dore Road, the family home.
*Neil Ruparelia, a PE and sporting colleague explained how Mike’s teaching wasn’t about coaching pupils to win, but giving all pupils a chance to have a go and do their best in sport. Neil told a personal story to illustrate Mike’s kindness and caring. He also described Mike as selfless and humble. Neil explained Mike’s close friendship with Bill Mann, a fellow cricketer and former teacher of physics at City of Leicester School. Bill was too ill to attend this service.
*Anna Boychuk, Headteacher at Whitehall Primary School, described Mike as Whitehall’s treasure. She said he gave himself completely to his teaching and changed the lives of many pupils by building their confidence. She described him as “a giant of a man” saying she will miss him greatly, and little things as well, such as his daily farewell, “Goodnight, Anna.”
*Jenny Hardy from Leicester Drama Society described Mike as a talented actor, who had taken part in 100 productions. He wasn’t just a ‘useful actor’, but a wonderful, loyal supporter of The Little Theatre, helping behind the scenes and also giving talks. She described him as warm, gentle and with a dry sense of humour and a man who really understood young people.
*Paul Dean, a contemporary July ‘49er, knew Mike through St James the Greater Church, which Mike had attended for 60 years, half the lifetime of the current building. Mike was a Sunday School teacher, a member of the Choir, a Server and sometime Churchwarden. He also organised the choir congregation cricket matches. The day before he died, Paul asked him if he ever taught Gary Lineker football. “Yes,” he said, “but he was a much better cricketer”.
*Reverend Andrew Quigley gave his appreciation of Mike and pointed out that you only need look around at the full church, with so many people attending ,whose lives had been touched by Mike Bull.
Below is Mike Bull’s account of the day he met the Queen.
The Day I met the Queen
By Mike Bull
It was in November 2008 when I received a letter from the Prime Minister’s office telling me that I had been awarded an MBE in the 2009 New Year’s honours list. You can imagine how surprised I was, but also how proud I felt to be honoured in this way. The ceremony was to be in March 2009, and the invite was for me and three guests to attend Buckingham Palace for the presentation. I travelled down to London by train and met my brother and his wife and their son and off we went to the palace. There were about 90 people who were to receive an honour as well as me, and we were taken into a side room at the palace in order to be given clear instructions as to what we were expected to do. At 11.00 precisely, the Queen was escorted into the Great Hall of the palace where the ceremony was to take place. All the guests were sitting there ready for the ceremony to begin. One by one, the recipients filed into the hall to be presented with their medals. At last it was my turn, and I approached the Queen exactly as we had rehearsed. It struck me how small she was as she stood on the dais and pinned the medal on to my lapel. She seemed to know all about each one of us and we had a brief chat about my involvement in Evington, the theatre and my teaching career in Evington. She then held out her hand for me to shake, a neck bow from me, and I was led from the hall. The citation read – ‘Michael Bull for services to Evington and the community in Leicester’ – and my five minutes of fame was over. The Queen was delightful and any nervousness had soon disappeared as she smiled at my approach and allowed a few words of conversation between us. It was a day I shall never forget and an honour that will stay with me for the rest of my life.
Reference: The Shell Winter 2022.
The following is the obituary written for the Evington Echo magazine and coordinated by Harkesh Farma.
Thanks for a life of service
Mike Bull MBE RIP
13th July 1949 – 7th June 2025
Local legend Mike Bull sadly passed away on the evening of 7th June 2025 at his home, aged 75. Many people contacted the Echo to contribute memories. Mike dedicated his life to education, drama, the Church and to sport. Although he lived mostly alone off East Park Road in the family home for all his life he had a wide social circle.
Education
Looking back, Mike reminisced about teacher training: “I loved the teaching practice and always wanted to be a primary teacher.”
He spent the first two years of his career at Coleman, then accompanied head teacher Freda Johnson to Whitehall Primary School in 1973, where he remained for 52 years! He was a class teacher and cover supervisor before leading the PE department. The school is recognised by the Department for Education for excellence in the delivery and administration of PE. Remarkably, he continued working one day a week in retirement, only stopping due to ill health quite recently.
Retired Teaching Assistant, Addy Tyler, remembers him fondly as “a true gentleman, with good old-fashioned values of manners and politeness”
His former Year 6 pupil, Sandeep Kandola, described him as “one of the last traditional teachers . He was very committed to the teaching profession and embodied the ethos of Whitehall.” Sandeep remembers that Mr Bull was passionate about singing and his commanding voice was very audible during assembly time!
Sandeep met him years later at The Dove and his enthusiasm for teaching was undiminished in semi-retirement; Mike was ever-grateful for his active professional and social life.
“A passionate, dedicated and committed educator who touched the lives of thousands of children.”
Addy recalled: “He was truly dependable, and until his recent illness, had never had a day off sick for almost 50 years! He had an amazing memory, knowing the name of every child – no mean feat in a school of 600 pupils! Not just names, but family connections, and for many years afterwards.”
“He was a fabulous raconteur and had everyone in stitches retelling Michael Rosen’s tales of his little son Eddie. “
Anna Bouchuk, Headteacher of Whitehall wrote: “Mr. Bull was not only a devoted teacher but also the heart and soul of our school community. His energy, passion and unwavering commitment to the children made an immeasurable impact on generations of people. His dedication, warmth, and tireless support of pupils and colleagues alike earned him the deep respect and affection of the entire school community and beyond.
A few days before his passing, school colleagues shared with him that his year 3/4 athletics team had qualified for the city final. This news was met with a very big smile from Mike. That rather sums up Mike who was so passionate about his job.
Mike was awarded an MBE in 2009. The citation was: ‘For services to education and the community in Leicester.’ He was so conscientious that the Head Teacher had to persuade him to accept the invitation from the palace and to take a day off work!
St James the Greater
As reported in the church magazine , The Shell, Mike first attended St James the Greater in 1957. “Coming from a non- churchgoing family he was accompanied by his neighbour Robert James. Mike later reminisced: “We sat at the front and the choirmaster spotted us as potential choristers. Rob’s voice wasn’t thought to be good enough, but I wouldn’t join without him. I missed out on being in the choir then, although I’ve always enjoyed singing.”
He attended St. James the Greater Church for at least 60 years and had many stints as churchwarden. He was a Sunday School teacher for 15—20 years and a church server.
Mike wrote about meeting the Queen in The Shell:
“She seemed to know all about each one of us and we had a brief chat about my involvement in Evington, the theatre and my teaching career in Evington. She then held out her hand for me to shake, a neck bow from me, and I was led from the hall.
St Denys, Evington.
Qyan Arnachellum of St Denys described him as “extremely intelligent, kind and gentle, with a smart and enjoyable sense of humour. He touched the lives of all he met in a most profound way. He will be extremely, deeply missed.” He recalled that in Revd. Anthony’s time at St. Denys, Mike would join the monthly pub night in the Cedars with his friend Bill Mann. He is remembered as a wit and raconteur who could hold an audience spell bound.
When St Denys celebrated its 800th anniversary the highlight for Rev. Anthony was the very successful production of the Lion the Witch, and the Wardrobe for which Mike directed a cast of 50 people aged from 9 to 90 from five faiths.
Drama
As an advocate of amateur dramatics, he volunteered as an actor and behind the scenes at the Little Theatre since 1964. Playing a variety of roles from serious parts to flamboyant pantomime dames. He would have been a spectacle to behold!
Services to Sport
Sport was his passion; he ran a multitude of clubs and teams, encouraging, coaching and mentoring Whitehall’s players to high achievements in school competitions.
He was an avid fan of cricket as a player, umpire and spectator. He had been a linesman, referee ,member and official of the Leicester and County Schools Football Association. According to Steve Turner, “The saying ‘If you want something done, ask a busy man.’ could have been written for Mike Bull. He was a sportsman in the fullest sense who formed enduring friendships. People relied on his wisdom and experience, and he is greatly missed. Nobody ever had a bad word to say about him. Generations of local people’s lives have been enhanced #through association and fellowship with Mike.”
As we have read, Mike’s happy places were in the classroom, on the stage, in church and at the cricket crease. We sincerely hope he is in a place of bliss now.
Edited by H. Farma
