• Contact us
  • About us
  • Digital edition
  • Online archive
Friday, July 11, 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    Use it or lose it: Urgent appeal for people to get on the bus

    Use it or lose it: Urgent appeal for people to get on the bus

    Penrith’s Enterprise Hub plans start to take shape

    Penrith’s Enterprise Hub plans start to take shape

    Long-awaited go-ahead for A66 dualling scheme

    Long-awaited go-ahead for A66 dualling scheme

    Extinction Rebellion protest outside insurance brokers

    Extinction Rebellion protest outside insurance brokers

    Lake District mountain rescue volunteers called for missing man searching for lost phone

    Lake District mountain rescue volunteers called for missing man searching for lost phone

    Man arrested after assault in Penrith town centre

    Man arrested after assault in Penrith town centre

    Changes to lease accounting – how will this impact your financial statements?

    Changes to lease accounting – how will this impact your financial statements?

    Man fined £100 for using cashpoint in car park

    Man fined £100 for using cashpoint in car park

    Honour for man who devoted his life to Greystoke

    Honour for man who devoted his life to Greystoke

  • Sport
    Success for fighting squad

    Success for fighting squad

    Penrith skipper Nicky Burns calls on team to keep winning

    Penrith skipper Nicky Burns calls on team to keep winning

    £100,000 target for new changing rooms extension

    £100,000 target for new changing rooms extension

    Medal success for Upper Eden tug-of-war team

    Medal success for Upper Eden tug-of-war team

    Eden man competes in Hyrox World Games

    Eden man competes in Hyrox World Games

    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    Use it or lose it: Urgent appeal for people to get on the bus

    Use it or lose it: Urgent appeal for people to get on the bus

    Penrith’s Enterprise Hub plans start to take shape

    Penrith’s Enterprise Hub plans start to take shape

    Long-awaited go-ahead for A66 dualling scheme

    Long-awaited go-ahead for A66 dualling scheme

    Extinction Rebellion protest outside insurance brokers

    Extinction Rebellion protest outside insurance brokers

    Lake District mountain rescue volunteers called for missing man searching for lost phone

    Lake District mountain rescue volunteers called for missing man searching for lost phone

    Man arrested after assault in Penrith town centre

    Man arrested after assault in Penrith town centre

    Changes to lease accounting – how will this impact your financial statements?

    Changes to lease accounting – how will this impact your financial statements?

    Man fined £100 for using cashpoint in car park

    Man fined £100 for using cashpoint in car park

    Honour for man who devoted his life to Greystoke

    Honour for man who devoted his life to Greystoke

  • Sport
    Success for fighting squad

    Success for fighting squad

    Penrith skipper Nicky Burns calls on team to keep winning

    Penrith skipper Nicky Burns calls on team to keep winning

    £100,000 target for new changing rooms extension

    £100,000 target for new changing rooms extension

    Medal success for Upper Eden tug-of-war team

    Medal success for Upper Eden tug-of-war team

    Eden man competes in Hyrox World Games

    Eden man competes in Hyrox World Games

    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
No Result
View All Result
Home Obituaries

Former Herald printer Michael Holder was the life and soul of any gathering

by CWH
1 August 2023
in Latest, Obituaries
A A
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Michael James Holder passed away peacefully on his 87th birthday

The death has occurred of former Herald printer Michael James Holder, of Whitehaven, aged 87.

Oldest of the three children of the late Cecil and Annie Holder, of Brougham Street, Castletown, Penrith, Mike was born at his grandparents’ home at Dacre House, Warcop.

He went on to spend many happy days there during his childhood and would later talk of going down to the beck and swinging over the water, and playing in the station house with his grandfather.

He had two sisters, Brenda and Christine, with the family growing up in Castletown. They were all very community minded and stalwart supporters of events such as the Castletown pantomimes — one of Mike’s favourites being Aladdin.

After leaving school at the age of 15, Mike became an apprentice printer at the Herald. His early career was interrupted by national service with the RAF and from November, 1954, he spent two years based in Cyprus. After returning to Cumbria, Mike worked at the Herald for many years as a Linotype operator, creating lines of type in hot metal, before moving to work for Penrith-based printers Airey and Stephenson.

He was foreman printer there until the firm ceased trading in 1995.

Mike then went on to briefly do site maintenance at Penrith’s Ullswater Community College until he took retirement.  

Mike served for 19 years as a special constable with the Cumbria police force. He was based in Appleby, where he was section supervisor. He was also a chairman and treasurer of the Special Constable Association.

In his youth he was a keen sportsman, playing cricket for the old Penrith Wanderers club.

He was mainly a spin bowler, while his father acted as umpire. He also played football for the former Penrith Weavers team.

However, his favourite hobby was gardening and he had a particular passion for growing vegetables. He was never happier than when spending time in his greenhouse. He also kept livestock while living at Kirkby Thore, but had an aversion to goats. 

Well known for his quick wit and sense of humour, Mike was the life and soul of any gathering. He was a well known patron of many hostelries, such as Penrith’s BBC Club and Station Hotel, and also the Stag, at Gullom, near Milburn.

He always enjoyed playing darts and dominoes. He had a prodigious memory and could recount tales of his youth and about the many people he had met. He had a wide repertoire of jokes and rather risque limericks from his RAF days, which his children can repeat perfectly.

He moved to Whitehaven in 1998, due to his wife’s employment. He spent his retirement gardening. He also enjoyed drinking mugs of tea at his breakfast bar, playing cards and being a taxi service for his children in his trademark burgundy Volvo estate car.

He enjoyed meeting many of his children’s friends who frequented the family home, since he could relate to people of all ages and backgrounds.

He was father to Naomi, Owen and Nadia and surrogate father to Joe, Jack, Kit and Jim. He had 11 grandchildren. They are devastated by their loss, but find comfort knowing he did not suffer and is at peace.

Mike passed away peacefully on his 87th birthday, surrounded by his wife and children in Whitehaven — poetically just after they had sung him Happy Birthday.

The funeral service is to be held at Saint Benedict’s Church, Whitehaven, on Wednesday, 2nd August, at midday, followed by committal at Distington crematorium.

Tags: premium

Related Posts

Penrith’s Enterprise Hub plans start to take shape
Latest

Penrith’s Enterprise Hub plans start to take shape

11 July 2025
Long-awaited go-ahead for A66 dualling scheme
Latest

Long-awaited go-ahead for A66 dualling scheme

8 July 2025
Extinction Rebellion protest outside insurance brokers
Latest

Extinction Rebellion protest outside insurance brokers

7 July 2025
Lake District mountain rescue volunteers called for missing man searching for lost phone
Latest

Lake District mountain rescue volunteers called for missing man searching for lost phone

7 July 2025
Man arrested after assault in Penrith town centre
Latest

Man arrested after assault in Penrith town centre

6 July 2025
£8,000 for two new nature reserve projects
Latest

£8,000 for two new nature reserve projects

3 July 2025
No Result
View All Result

Stay connected

Facebook Twitter Instagram

Most popular

Man arrested after assault in Penrith town centre

Man arrested after assault in Penrith town centre

6 July 2025
Changes to lease accounting – how will this impact your financial statements?

Changes to lease accounting – how will this impact your financial statements?

6 July 2025
Long-awaited go-ahead for A66 dualling scheme

Long-awaited go-ahead for A66 dualling scheme

8 July 2025
Man fined £100 for using cashpoint in car park

Man fined £100 for using cashpoint in car park

4 July 2025
Honour for man who devoted his life to Greystoke

Honour for man who devoted his life to Greystoke

4 July 2025
Use it or lose it: Urgent appeal for people to get on the bus

Use it or lose it: Urgent appeal for people to get on the bus

11 July 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald Logo

33 Middlegate
Penrith
Cumbria
CA11 7SY

Phone: 01768 862313
Email: news@cwherald.com

Registered in England as Barrnon Media Limited. No: 12475190
VAT registration number: 343486488

Explore

  • News
  • Sport
  • Farming
  • Property
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Your view

Useful links

  • Contact us
  • Photosales
  • Online archive
  • Buy your paper
  • Digital edition
  • North Lakes Living
  • Advertise
  • About us

Follow us on

© Barrnon Media Limited 2025

Terms & Conditions / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy

This website and its associated newspaper are members of the Independent Press Standards Organisation
Review Your Cart
0
Discount
Add Coupon Code
Subtotal
Total Installment Payments
Bundle Discount
Checkout

 
0
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • more
    • North Lakes Living
    • Buy Photos
    • Buy your paper
    • About us
    • Contact us

© 2020 Cumberland & Westmorland Herald