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thecollingburnboys
United Kingdom
574 Posts |
 Posted - 06/09/2016 : 18:53:57
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I'm just letting the MG MMM world know that Mike Collingburn has fully retired.
In a typically unfussy fashion he recently came in and said "James, that's it, I can't do this anymore, I'm done".
He is now 70 but it's more that the Parkinsons is slowly robbing him of his once sharp mind and abilities. There is so much he simply isn't capable of anymore. He will continue to pop in and do a wee bit if he feels like it but with no commitment.
My parents want to enjoy their retirements together and go on lots of holidays, they are currently in Ireland on a jaunt.
He had such an inquisitive mind and excelled at school at Art, Wood/Metal work and Maths but couldn't get his head round English and has terrible handwriting. He could look at something, see how it was constructed and think; I can make that... but better. He would have a go and wouldn't be defeated by anything.
He has always being interested in very specific things and actually wanted to be an engineer/architect and was fascinated with how bridges work and could support all that weight.
That wasn't to be, so he got into car restoration and completely taught himself from scratch and had no training whatsoever and doesn't have a single upholstery qualification. He just saw the seats and trim as another part of the restoration of his first car Nancy, an MG TC. He never really planned the business, it just happened and the work snowballed due to the craftsmanship and quality of the materials he used. MG owners choose him to become a specialist, he jokes he should have done old Bentleys or Rollers instead as they are more lucrative but MGs were his love and deserved top class interiors. He saw it as his hobby, his passion and his craft, not really a business. In my opinion he is one of the few who turned car upholstery into an Artform and his standards have always been higher than most.
I love my father dearly, he has always been my idol but he was a hard taskmaster to work for and can't half be a funny bugger at times. A funny little story to illustrate this: He has extensive notes on MGs and car trimming in general. As his work became noticed at car shows worldwide and made a name for himself as an MG specialist, he was asked to write a series of tutorials on car trimming which would later be compiled into a book. When asked by the publishers, what do you want to call it? Thinking he would reply with something obvious and boring like: Mike Collingburn's guide to car trimming.
He went silent...
Stared upwards...
And simply thought about it for an uncomfortable length of time... (he likes to think things through, thinks people talk to much and should be specific and say what they mean)...
Just as they were thinking has he forgotten we're in the room he enthusiastically replied: "The Cat Skinner's Guide to Car Trimming!".
Looking bemused and confused they asked "Why Mike?"
"Because there is more than one way to skin a cat and there is certainly more than one way to trim a car. You asked me to do it, it's a great name and that's what I want to call it and I'm not budging on it".
To say the least they weren't keen on they name and said it's too random, humorous and not serious enough and Mike replied: "Well I take what I do very seriously... but not myself and if I'm putting my name to something then it has to have some of my character in it. If the book hasn't got character I don't wish to do it Thank You very much."
They couldn't agree on another name so he happily walked away from the deal.
He has kept every drawing and all his notes, the book exists in note form only but if it can't be called the above it will never see the light of day.
Go your own way and do your own thing... no matter how far out.
Cheers James Collingburn
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Edited by - thecollingburnboys on 05/11/2016 16:44:49 |
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LewPalmer
USA
3243 Posts |
Posted - 06/09/2016 : 19:55:51
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Wow!
James, give you father all the best from one humble customer. It is true. Mike's work was the best in the world. I treasure his visit to St. Paul for MG2001 and the gift of a tool roll he proudly presented to me at that time.
Lew Palmer
Lew Palmer
PA1169, PB0560 |
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JMH
United Kingdom
911 Posts |
Posted - 06/09/2016 : 20:13:15
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All the best for the future James.
JH |
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Jamie
Canada
218 Posts |
Posted - 06/09/2016 : 20:49:32
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James
Thanks very much for the great write up on Mike, his career and his plan to retire. The best to your Mom and Dad in their future travels and it's good to know the MMM business carries on....your Dad's legacy lives on in several of our car interiors!
Jamie and Harry
Jamie |
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Brakesoff
United Kingdom
97 Posts |
Posted - 06/09/2016 : 21:07:35
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James,
Glad to hear that your parents are going to enjoy some 'me' time. Very well deserved. Very best wishes to them both.
Nick |
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mgtommm
USA
505 Posts |
Posted - 07/09/2016 : 16:09:45
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Mike has provided me more laughs than he has his many, many excellent interiors over the years. Quality craftmanship with the benefit of dry Yorkshire wit & wisdom tossed in!
I hope you can continue the legacy, James, and best to Mike & Maggie!
tommm on the sunny shores of the Great lake Erie |
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John James
United Kingdom
963 Posts |
Posted - 07/09/2016 : 17:24:58
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You did it your way Mike!
Grateful thanks for the wonderful seats you made for my PB (apple green) and, more recently, for my J2 (dark red).
Enjoy your retirement!
JOHN JAMES |
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thecollingburnboys
United Kingdom
574 Posts |
Posted - 26/10/2016 : 11:47:10
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Collingburn as a business is up for sale/merge, click the link for details: http://www.triple-mregister.org/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=11495
Contact me if you wish to discuss/come view our stock etc.
We will continue but in a different form. We've got too big for our boots :-) and I'm drowning in work, help needed,
cheers James.
James Collingburn |
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