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Michael Christopher Bridger (G38-43)

1926-2010

This tribute is based on an input from his daughter Sally Campbell.

Michael was born in Argentina in 1926 and was the 6th Bridger to attend Framlingham; the first 4 were his stepbrothers. He arrived in England in 1938 when he started at the College. During his time at Framlingham he won the Eustace Dicks Memorial Prize and the Austin Sparkes Prize. He also excelled at sport and captained the Cricket and Swimming teams and was also the Keeper of Fives.

On finishing at the College he started University, but his course was soon interrupted when he was conscripted into the Home Guard. After the war he joined the Army in the Royal Engineers and was served on the Indian sub-continent and in particular with the Pakistani Government just as the country achieved its independence. He recalled spending his 21st Birthday on a train platform in Rawlpindi. He left the Army in 1948 having gained the rank of Captain.

He then attended Imperial College to finish his Engineering degree and, on graduation, started working for the Kuwait Oil Company. In 1952 he moved to the Iraq Petroleum Company as a Protection Engineer at a power station in Bagdad.

In due course he returned to England and put his engineering skills to a different use when he bought a derelict, 1568 Grade II listed, thatched pub in Leicestershire. This was his passion, which he restored and converted into a fabulous family home installing mains sewage, water, electricity and gas. After this project he returned to his engineering bent and worked for several East Midlands Engineering firms including Brush, Systems International UK, Taylor Made Acoustic Treatments and Hawker Siddeley.

In 1963 he married Enid Morgan (Pat) and had 2 children Jonathon and Sally.

Whilst working for Hawker Siddeley he returned to the Middle East to work in Saudi Arabia installing the country’s electrical infrastructure. Following this task he was made redundant and set up his own company, Brodmar (later to become Bridge Hire). Then in 1984 he formed a company called Datalink Electronics dealing with fibre optics; this remains a successful business.

He absolutely loved Rugby, playing extensively as a younger man and refereeing in his more senior years. Nobody was allowed to interrupt or telephone during the World Cup!

He retired in 1993 and travelled extensively, including a round-the-world trip, a journey on the Orient Express and the experience of the Silk Run in China. He and his wife Pat holidayed many times on the canals in France.

He moved to Wales to live with his daughter Sally in 2008. Here he loved the country, pottering about and being with his daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren. He died of an inoperable brain tumour on 6th May 2010.

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