Dr Michael ‘Mick’ Banks

It is with great regret that the club has learned of the death in the USA of Doctor Michael ‘Mick’ Banks, a former first team full back who continued to be a huge supporter and friend of Canterbury Rugby from his home in America. Mick, who was 70, followed the fortunes of the team through our match reports and was regularly in touch with us as a committed supporter. On his visits to England to see family members he always made the club one of his important points of call. He played for the first team in the 1980s after moving from the Sheppey club and then taking up an appointment with the Pfizer company in Sandwich. He was always modest about his rugby talents which he underplayed in his gently, humorous way. He had no need to be. Mick was a Northumbrian who came to Kent to establish a distinguished professional career in the pharmaceutical industry which culminated in him becoming a Vice president in Pfizer’s American operations. After his retirement from the company in 2011 he set up a successful consultancy. Mick lived in New York State for many years but shortly before his death had moved to a new home in Florida. Our thoughts and sympathies are with Mick’s wife Janet and children Michael, Paul and Katie. There are plans for a celebration of Mick’s life here in Kent at a later date.