Forever keen for a sporting challenge, Mick initially figured in local athletics and in weightlifting competitions via his training at the old Skipton weightlifting club beside the Devonshire Hotel.

However, when a boxing gym opened in the early 1970s at Skipton Rugby Club, Mick would be one of its first new arrivals.

Established boxers from Halifax Star—whereby an official ABA licence was cemented—brought a wealth of experience—and newcomers from the Skipton locality such as Richard Hirst, John Cartman, Ralph Molinari, John Higson, Pat Brady, Jeff Barnaby, Roger Ingham, and Mick Tyson himself, were soon to be testing official competition.

And, with a commendable degree of success.

Indeed Hirst and Cartman, also Les Steadman who had previously figured residence-wise at Halifax, were soon to be making a mark at a higher level.

But Mick was also good for the game.

And, living up to the longstanding punch-line, “it needs two to make a contest”, Mick certainly upheld that obligatory honour.

He engaged in some cracking, crowd-pleasing bouts, as far afield as Glasgow, Wolverhampton, and even at London’s White City.

And, however formidable the opponent, Mick never failed to land in for work the following morning where, throughout his boxing career he worked as a council dustman.

The old heavyweight “dust-bin on shoulder”.

Good enough for keep fit training!

Seemingly never destined to be the greatest, Mick though had the pleasure of meeting the self-styled “greatest”, namely Muhammed Ali, when Mick and other Skipton training pals went over to Munich to watch Bradford’s British, Commonwealth, and European heavyweight champion, Richard Dunn challenge Ali for the World title.

The Bradford boxer himself having also been a frequent attender at the Skipton gym.

Whatever though, Mick Tyson’s frailties, he was never lacking in heart and endeavour.

And, good enough to attract the attentions of professional management whereby he eventually signed up with a former professional boxer-turned-manager, Jimmy Devanney of Bradford.

However, there was far more in Mick’s locker of attributes than merely boxing.

For, his strength and athleticism benefited the community in innumerable ways outside of sport.

Indeed for many years he was a valuable assist for Skipton Charities Gala in the era when the obligatory “half mile” of perimeter fencing needed loading up in the council yard, then setting up, and then pulling up after the event itself.

Mick, and his small hardy band of fellow volunteers, would class the procedure of pounding all those many posts with the old heavyweight mell, as simply arduous training!

Moreover though, he was forever a source of help for elderly neighbours whether it be moving heavy furniture, vacuuming, shopping, or clearing snow-covered paths, Mick was certainly the man to have around.

What a man, what a star!