Devoted Gosport couple die days apart after a life of love

Heartbroken Mick died after he was given the tragic news that his wife of almost 60 years had just days left to live.

Pamela, 77, died little more than 48 hours later with her family at her side at her daughter Michelle’s home in Fareham.

Now, the Gosport couple are set to have their funeral together tomorrow at Milton Cemetery, Milton, in what is believed to be one of the first double casket services of its kind at the site.

Mick – who would have turned 81 yesterday – will be buried beside his parents in Milton, with Pamela’s ashes being spread on his casket on Wednesday before the burial plot is finally filled in.

Grieving daughter Michelle, 52, said the pair were devoted to one another.

‘Dad and mum were a team throughout their lives. They loved each other in their own way,’ she said.

She added: ‘I think when dad heard that mum had a few days to live I think he just gave up.

‘He couldn’t bear the thought of not being with her.’

Mick was born on April 30, 1936, at St Mary’s Hospital, Milton, to Margaret and Harvey Gray.

Pamela was born on October 28, 1939, in Emery Down, near Lyndhurst.

The couple met as young adults by chance, when Mick was on leave from the RAF – he helped rescue her from a toilet after Pamela accidentally locked herself in.

The pair soon tied the knot, marrying on May 2, 1959, at St James’ Church, in Milton.

After a brief stint in Australia the couple returned to the area, moving to Chantry Road, Gosport where their two children Michelle and Anne-Marie were born.

In 1964 Mick joined Portsmouth City Police as a PC – a job he would stay in until he retired in 1992.

During his time with the force, he was presented numerous awards for bravery, including a commendation for disarming a man with a pistol and, later, a naval deserter who was keeping his guards at knifepoint.

He eventually became the chairman of the Hampshire Police Federation – a role he kept for 23 years.

During his stint in charge, he narrowly avoided death while on a goodwill trip to help a new police federation in Poland, in 1991.

The car he was travelling in crashed, killing his Polish host.

In later life, Mick’s sight failed and in November 2015 he was diagnosed with an abdominal aortic aneurism. Less than a year later, Pamela was taken to Queen Alexandra Hospital and diagnosed with vascular dementia.

She spent a brief period in a nursing home before moving in with her daughter. Mick died on April 5, his wife died two days later.

They leave two daughters, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Mick is survived by his aunt, Kath, aged 97.