Colin Micklewright: the man who fought for Truro cancer care

When Colin Micklewright turned 80, he did not settle for a quiet celebration. He set off at 6.20am to play 80 holes of golf in a single day. Nearly twelve hours later he had walked almost 33 miles, lost just a handful of balls and raised thousands of pounds for the charity he loved. He did it without fuss, and it captured almost everything about him.

Colin was a Trustee and Treasurer, fundraiser and long-standing supporter of the Sunrise Appeal. He died in March. The charity he served for many years has paid tribute to a man it remembers as kind, generous, principled and endlessly positive.

A life that spanned continents

Born in Market Harborough in 1941 and raised in Suffolk, Colin qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1965. His career took him around the world, with senior financial and accountancy roles in London, the Netherlands and South Africa.

During his time in South Africa he worked for Mobil Oil and later Norwich Union, where he became Chief Accountant covering the whole of Southern Africa. Faced with the realities of apartheid, he made the difficult decision to leave rather than compromise his values.

In 1980 he settled in Cornwall and set up his own accountancy practice, built on trust and a genuine care for the people he worked with. He carried on working into later life, simply because he loved helping others.

The campaign that kept treatment in Cornwall

Alongside his professional career, Colin gave more than 35 years to charitable work in the health sector. As Trustee and Treasurer of the Sunrise Appeal, he was passionate about making sure people in Cornwall affected by cancer could reach the best treatment and care.

His most significant contribution came in 2018. NHS England was considering proposals that could have seen some Cornish cancer patients forced to travel out of the county for treatment, raising concerns about the future of services at The Sunrise Centre at Royal Cornwall Hospital.

Colin worked alongside fellow trustees, healthcare professionals, supporters, Cornwall’s MPs and the local media to raise awareness of the public consultation and encourage people to complete an online survey. He understood how much it mattered for patients to be treated close to home, surrounded by family and friends.

The response from Cornwall was extraordinary. Of the 12,000 responses submitted to NHS England’s consultation across the UK, more than 11,000 came from Cornwall. It was the largest response NHS England had ever received to a public consultation of its kind.

The campaign worked. Patients would continue to receive radiotherapy at The Sunrise Centre in Truro rather than travelling out of Cornwall. The Sunrise Appeal calls it one of its proudest achievements, and its impact is still felt by every patient treated there today.

Eighty holes at 80

Colin’s response to his 80th birthday, in March 2021, said a great deal about him. A passionate golfer and former Club Captain at Lanhydrock Hotel & Golf Club near Bodmin, he set himself the challenge of playing 80 holes of golf in a single day to raise money for the Sunrise Appeal.

He was supported by fellow club members Colin Mutton, who played the whole challenge alongside him, Graham Cuff, who acted as caddy and buggy driver, and Curly Hunt, whose job was to spot golf balls. They set off at 6.20am and finished at 6.35pm.

Between them the two Colins walked almost 33 miles, lost just three golf balls and stopped only briefly after 44 holes. BBC Radio Cornwall followed his progress, checking in four times through the day. He had hoped to raise £5,000. He finished with £10,500.

The person behind it all

Colin threw himself into whatever he loved. He played hockey, squash, tennis and golf, and followed Ipswich Town F.C. with unwavering enthusiasm. He had a lifelong fascination with history, especially the Second World War, and flew both a Spitfire and a Lancaster bomber in honour of his family’s wartime connections. He loved travel, and South Africa in particular stayed close to his heart.

Family was at the centre of his world. A devoted husband, father and grandfather, he took pride in those he loved, whether sharing adventures or encouraging his grandsons to be brave and try new things.

Those who knew him remember his warmth, his wisdom and his laughter. He was a natural storyteller, often at his own expense, and rarely without a mischievous smile and a twinkle in his eye.