Michael Atkinson

When he died, aged 76, it was in the house where he began his life.

For 17 years, he was a familiar extra on ITV’s Heartbeat, greatly enjoying the chance it gave him to work alongside its stars.

While that brought him a certain recognition in his local community, there were other aspects of his life for which he was also well known, and being a volunteer with the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service was the most important.

His involvement began in the early 1960s when the village was cut off by snow, and the nearest full-time brigade, nine miles away, was unable to get through to deal with a blaze. Mr Atkinson and others tackled it themselves, and that event prompted them to start a volunteer fire brigade of their own.

Equipped with just a hand-cart, stirrup-pump, buckets and Army helmets, the volunteers became increasingly skilled and efficient.

Mr Atkinson’s experience and enthusiasm later earned him the position of Leading Firefighter, and in 1999, after more than 35 years’ involvement, he was honoured with the MBE by the Queen at Buckingham Palace for being one of the longest- serving volunteer firefighters in England. Understandably, it was a proud moment for the whole community, and later there was much personal satisfaction when his grandson joined Goatland Fire Station.

Mr Atkinson’s formal education began at the local primary school in Goathland, and continued at Fylinghall School.

He left there when he was 15 to work full time on the family farm where they kept pigs, hens, horses, dairy cattle and a Swaledale sheep flock which ran on Goathland Moor, close to the Fylingdales Early Warning System.

After his parents died, Mr Atkinson continued with the Swaledale sheep flock and suckler cows in partnership with his wife Margaret and son David.

Mr Atkinson’s other passions were the Goathland Ploughstots, a Long Sword Dance Team, unique to Goathland, which he joined when he was 12.

In later years, although his dancing days were behind him, he remained a stalwart supporter of the troupe, and, highly respected, was made its president.

The Ploughstots gave him the opportunity to visit places he might never have otherwise seen, and to meet people who shared his love of the art form and the congenial social life that goes with it. He was a man who made the most of life, and found himself amid kindred spirits.

He was also Vice-President of both the Beckhole Quoit Club and Goathland Cricket Club. And in his younger days, he enjoyed hill walking, most especially in Scotland and the Lake District.

All who met Mr Atkinson were struck by his friendly, out-going nature; he thrived in company, and the delight he got from meeting new people and renewing old acquaintances never left him.

He is survived by his wife Margaret, their son David and daughter Julie, and two grandchildren.