Cononley Post Master dies

From the archive, first published Wednesday 6th Dec 2006.

MICHAEL Wilcock, post master from Cononley who used to run the Hart's Head at Giggleswick, died suddenly at the age of 47 on Sunday.

Michael was born on March 31 1959 at Cawder Ghyll Maternity Hospital in Skipton.

He was the only child of Patricia and Dennis Wilcock and as a boy he lived at Laithe Close and Barrett Street in Silsden.

Michael was educated at Aireview Primary School and Hothfield Street School in Silsden before moving to South Craven School in Cross Hills.

He was a very popular person at school and had a passion for playing rugby union.

He went on to study public administration at Leicester Polytechnic and earned himself a BA Honours degree.

After leaving university he married Marion Pearson in 1981. He worked for British Road Services in Goole and Sheffield but always wanted to work for himself.

He achieved this in 1989 when he and his wife bought the Harts Head Hotel in Giggleswick with Marion's parents, David and Linda Pearson.

After eight years at the Harts Head, Michael became a sales adviser.

In 2005, Michael and Marion took over Cononley Post Office, fulfilling another one of their ambitions.

Michael was always a hard worker and put all his effort into everything he did. This is reflected in the resounding success the Post Office has had in the last two years.

He had a lifelong interest in history and had a great knowledge of the subject. He was also a big fan of cricket and football and followed Leeds United from an early age.

Michael always had a friend wherever he went. He was a genuinely caring person with a great sense of humour. When he went out in Silsden he would find always find people who knew him from years ago.

He had a great love of Cononley and recently became a member of the parish council, an appointment of which he was very proud.

Michael's death was unexpected and came as a great shock to his family and friends. He had a heart attack and was taken into Airedale General Hospital. He died on Sunday, (Dec3).

Michael had two children, Scott, 21, and Victoria, 18, and his loving wife Marion, 45.

He will be greatly missed by his family and friends and it is a great testament to Michael that the village of Cononley will miss his warmth and kind nature.

A funeral service will be held at St. John's Church in Cononley tomorrow prior to cremation at Skipton.