Mike Winters

Mike Winters (born Michael Weinstein; 15 November 1926 – 24 August 2013)

Early life

He was born at 15 Canonbury Lane, Islington, north London, where his father was a bookmaker. One of his grandfathers had emigrated to the UK from Russia. Mike won a scholarship to Tottenham Grammar School but was evacuated to Wiltshire with his younger brother where he eventually ended up at the City of Oxford High School for Boys. At 15 Winters won a scholarship and grant to the Royal Academy of Music to study clarinet, where he was one of the founders of the Royal Academy of Music Jazz Quintet.

In World War II, Winters, who was underage, joined the Merchant Navy. The brothers became popular in the 1960s, they appeared on the Royal Variety Performance and hosted their own show from 1965 to 1973.

By the late 1970s, Bernie Winters was having an affair with a dancer twenty years his junior, Dinah May, which reportedly started when she was eighteen and Bernie was forty. When he was named in Dinah's divorce suit, Mike, who was also involved in an affair, openly mocked Bernie, which strained their relationship. presenting black-tie boxing events. Winters was also active in charity work, with visits to Miami from Muhammad Ali, Prince Michael of Kent and Prince Edward and was awarded the city of Miami keys by the mayor. Winters also co-produced with Jude Parry, directed, performed and wrote the first British professional pantomime to appear in Florida, it was such a success that they continued for five years, starring not only local young talent but also Davy Jones of the Monkees. Winters was the owner of a 1965 Alvis TE21 sports coupe in white, which he purchased at the Earls Court Motorshow.

Death

Mike Winters died of pancreatic cancer on 24 August, 2013 in Fairford, Gloucestershire. He was survived by his wife Cassie and their two children, as well as five grandchildren.