MICHAEL J. OAKLEY died on 22^nd October, 2011 at the age of 76 years

Priscilla and I have known Mike and Sue for the best part of 40 years. From early days in the 1970’s through to the present day, although in latter years, when they were less actively involved with shows, contact was exchanged in letters. Having graduated from Christ’s college, Cambridge he went on to lecture in humanities studies at the Central School of Arts and Design (later called Central St. Martins) where he met Sue who was a student and their life together started. They lived in Clerkenwell then moved to Wimbledon SW19 where we first met them in the mid 1970’s. Moving afterwards to Upper Lodge Farm and then to Rag Hill in more recent years. He rarely if ever talked about himself so I have no knowledge of his early childhood and upbringing, except to say that he was brought up in Reading with his sister and went to school there.

Mike was quite a complex character, but above all else, to me he was honest, sincere, and both erudite and intelligent, literate and caring. He was very much his own person. He did not suffer fools gladly and since by nature he was an idealist, with deeply held convictions on humanity and fairness, he probably found in his dealings with people, as you might expect, that many fell short and disappointed him, and he possibly found them “shallow”. Aren’t idealists always disillusioned to some extent? His own standards were high and demanding. His innate kindness was sometimes I felt deliberately kept quite concealed.

The centre point of his existence in the time we knew him was his devotion and love for Sue which was over riding and plain to see. His protection and abiding love for Sue was both touching and solid and almost tangible at times. She was very much the focal point of his existence and they were a very close unit together which makes Sue’s loss of her soul mate so poignant at this point in time as we think of him today and wish him a sad farewell.

Most here know Mike via his life long interest in Irish Setters. They enjoyed great success with their “Caspians” affix particularly Sh. Ch. Caspians Night Music and her son Sh. Ch. Caspians Intrepid and his remarkable record of 77 CC’s, which is firmly defined in Irish setter history and records. I found this particularly gratifying as a culmination of their dedication and love of the breed, as it followed hard upon the heels of some earlier dark days which I knew about and which caused them distress and unhappiness.

Mike and Sue both had a profound and deep knowledge of pedigrees and they both steeped themselves in this aspect. Sue’s involvement, assisted by Mike was similarly instrumental in the development and production of the South of England Irish Setter Club’s “Book of Champions” dedicated to the memory of L.C. James and still annually updated to this day. Mike took hundreds of photographs of Irish setters out of interest and professionally, many of which are definitive records of dogs and bitches captured in all their beauty and glory – and of course these were black and white studies which required much more from the “photographer” in expertise than today’s much advanced instant high tech images. His head study of Sh.Ch. Wendover Jeeves has to be one of the best ever. If you read W. J. Rasbridge’s breed description of an Irish Setter head and looked at this photograph you have all you need to know about the head of an Irish setter.

I recall many happy days at “Upper Lodge Farm – it was here after many of us had attended the South of England Championship show held at Newbury Racecourse in the late 1970’s/early 1980’s that we then went on to enjoy a B-B-Q at the end of usually a hot summer day…these were halcyon days.

Mike through his days as Chairman and committee member of the Irish Setter Breeders Club, the South of England Irish Setter Club as well as a committee member of the Irish Setter Association put time and effort and a much valued contribution to the breed, which it has to be said, took little out of it for himself. Not for him the pursuit of judging appointments. Mike also wrote for “Our Dogs” as a breed correspondent, (but like the writer with “Dog World”) when they started editing what could be said and limiting his self-imposed editing and discretion he characteristically stopped I believe.

Mike had, it appeared to me, little time for “dog politics” and I think he had scant regard for people who used their dogs as a vehicle to satisfy their need for success and ambition. He was a life long supporter for CND (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament) and causes which espoused humanity and fairness. In his days as a lecturer he was central and active in matters concerning the Teachers Union. He disliked cant and pomposity and people interested in displays of superficial wealth and influence- The cult of celebrity and the endless pursuit of success and money was not for him!

He had a strong sense of humour, dry and with a brittle edge which lurked always only just below the surface.

He was a principled, caring man with strong beliefs and deeply held convictions and opinions – A person you could respect and trust. He was sensitive and loyal. He adored his wife Sue and had an abiding love for their dogs (Irish and Salukis) and particularly Irish setters. In him we loose an old friend and our loss is plain to see and feel. He will be remembered with pride, affection and warmth. I am sure that his one request would be “look after Sue and support her if you wish to honour me”.

James Smith