Tributes paid to Norwich church stalwart
2013: A congregation of 150 heard tributes paid to eminent Norwich businessman and pillar of Norwich Reformed Church Mike Quinton at his funeral held at Norwich Central Baptist Church on March 1.
Mike was a stalwart, administrator and founder member of Norwich Reformed Church for over 20 years.
Paying tribute, church leader Dr Alan C. Clifford said: “It is one of the greatest privileges of my life to have known Mike. Seeing him grow in grace over this period has been a remarkable testimony to the grace of God. His prayers have always been a great blessing to my soul, his wisdom has ever been a vital element in my thinking and his humour has always cheered me.
"Indeed, Mike was one of the most amazing men I have ever had the privilege of knowing. His faith in Christ and daily example have enriched my life. I am deeply aware that whatever has been achieved through the witness and fellowship of Norwich Reformed Church would never have been possible - under God - without Mike.”
A well-known local businessman Mike, who died peacefully at his home aged 86, was involved with one of Norwich’s biggest charities, as chairman of the Town Close Estate Charity, which gave hundreds of thousands of pounds to groups and bodies in Norwich, for about 15 years. And he had been a trustee of the charity, which was formed in 1892, for about 50 years.
Born in Avenue Road, Norwich, Michael Grand Quinton, was the oldest of three children. After Avenue School, he went to Norwich School and then did his National Service in the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers.
He read geography at St Catherine’s College, Cambridge, and in 1951 he became one of the first graduate management trainees at Norwich shoe group, Norvic. After almost a quarter of a century in January 1974, he was appointed a director of Norvic Shoe Co but resigned in August the following year to join Bally Shoes.
He was a long-serving chairman of the Norwich & District Citizens Advice Bureau and was still joint chairman of Eaton Park Community Centre.
Married for 53 years, he leaves a widow, Rosemary, two children, Stephen and Catherine, and seven grandchildren.
Pictured above are Mike and Rosemary Quinton.
Read more about Mike Quinton on EDP24