As some of you know, we have lost a Club legend in Mike Bassett, who died this week after a long and typically courageous battle against leukaemia. Everyone who has been associated with the Club for a long time has a story about Mike. I could go on for ages about his endless fund of stories and his escapades. I think it is only right to ask one of his oldest friends to pay his own tribute to Mike, so in Digby Staples words : -

Michael Kenneth Lloyd Bassett - Or our mate Mick.
> Where do l begin with someone like Mick. They certainly broke the mould when they made him. Totally unique with a wicked sense of humour.
> We first met at the age of 10 when we lived in opposite pubs and we hit it off straight away. We were forever out, playing cricket and football, building the bonfire for firework night and generally up to mischief, which lead to lots of laughs. Despite both going separate ways with our careers we still found time to meet after work. Mick had an apprenticeship at Davis and Sons in West Malling where he became a Carpenter and Joiner. This eventually lead him to build his own beautiful double fronted family home overlooking the green in Offham which he called Cover Point.
> Late teenage years consisted of hanging around The Swan in West Malling where we enjoyed drinking and games such as bar billiards, darts and table football. We played football for Town Malling for a while until Mick broke his ankle. After recovery he got the Rugby bug and convinced me to join him at Vigo. We were under Dave Pugh's Leadership and enjoyed many drunken Veteran's tours. On one tour to Dorset l remember he challenged a young member of Gillingham's team to a Port drinking competition which made him so pissed that he came second. The first and last time l saw him lose a drinking game. Then of course there were the motor racing tours to Le Mans, Nurberg, Mille Miglia and Vintage and Veteran Car Rallies. They were always accompanied by lashings of the evil drink and lots of laughs with his dearest friends. One of Michaels proud boasts is that 'he shat himself on four continents' Quite a feat by anyone's standards.
> Despite all that he went through in the last few years with his illness, he always maintained his laid back casual manner, underplaying the seriousness of it. He put it into the background and showed more interest in others and whatever was going on at the time. He was certainly an inveterate story teller who always could produce a new joke when meeting up with his chums who were very important to him.
> Despite losing the love of his life many years ago he had a very happy family life with his three gorgeous daughters who he called 'his rascals'. They have been by his side throughout, supporting and caring for him to the end so he passed away peacefully and completely loved.
> I think we all agree that the world is a sadder place without him. God Bless Mick.

Thanks Digby. It is always very difficult to put into words the sadness we all feel about losing one of our Vigo Family. We will always have a special place in our hearts for any of our friends. We shall all miss you, Mike. Rest in Peace, old friend. Luv ya.

For those wishing to say Farewell to Mike, his funeral is at Vinters Park, Maidstone on Friday 17th March at 10.15 a.m. Afterwards at the Dog & Bear, Lenham.