Mike first played for Lymington Cricket Cub in the early 1970s, and although his business interests restricted his appearances, he always retained a keen interest and great affection for the club. He was a vice president, and on First XI matchdays he would arrive at the Sports Ground in his car with its personalised ‘MCC’ number plate before sitting down in the clubhouse with a beer to chew over the state of the game with his contemporaries Brian Hobby, Jack Barrett, Bill Craft, John Stanley, Tony Webb and John Lawson, among others. He was also a regular attendee at the club’s annual presentation dinners, always wearing his distinctive stripy jacket and tie. As a cricketer, Mike was an effective opening bat who was good against pace and possessed a classical cover drive. A glance through the history books shows a host of noteworthy innings for the club, such as the 92 he scored against Westbury in 1976. A very occasional spin bowler, he once took 5-26 against Hyde Ramblers in 1979. Mike also played for the Stragglers of Asia and The Invalids cricket clubs, making his debut for the Stragglers in 1968. He scored eight fifties for them in his 110 innings with a top score of 74 not out against the Hampshire Hogs in 1981. He match-managed many games and went on several Stragglers tours including to Jersey, South Africa, Cyprus and Hong Kong.

Off the field, Mike’s personality was as colourful as his one of his jackets. He had been born in April 1943 in Banbury where his father Ossie, a former Lymington CC president, was working in the aluminium industry. The family then moved to Kings Heath in Birmingham and he went to Sebright School in Kidderminster where his passion for cricket was born. Ossie was involved with Pickwick CC so Mike played his early club cricket there and also for Warwickshire Amateurs. At some point in time Mike decided to enlist in the army and went to the Mons Officer Cadet Training school in Aldershot. He joined the Royal Artillery in 1965 and served as a lieutenant for seven years, many of those in Malaysia. On leaving the army Mike considered a career in acting and attended drama school in London for 18 months. However, he left saying he could never remember all his lines!

In the mid-1970s Mike took on the Foresters restaurant in Ashley Lane in Lymington, and then later The Old Bank House wine bar in the High Street. During Lymington's championship winning season of 1983 the team and some supporters spent most Saturday evenings after home games enjoying his generous hospitality at the Bank House after the bar at the club had closed. There was many a happy late night spent there thanks to Mike’s bonhomie and conviviality. He subsequently bought an old Dutch barge (Marlow’s Barge) from Jeremy Rogers. The barge was towed around the coast and up the Thames where it became 'The Battersea Barge' and subsequently 'The English Maid'. In later years Mike ran Belle Epoch in Milford, a wine bar which curiously also sold antiques and bric-a-brac. Jerry Holt recalls once popping in for ‘just a quick drink’ but later emerging with a cricket print that Mike had persuaded him to purchase! Mike was also a Lymington town councillor for many years, including a spell as deputy mayor, and he is widely regarded as having been part of the transition from the old Borough council to the modern town council we know today.

Among the warm tributes to Mike came this one from Richard McGlashan, Lymington’s overseas player in 1985: “I have very fond memories of my time at Lymo and Mike Halliwell. For a South African coming to the UK for the first time straight out of conscription, Mike became a good mate and always welcomed us, and he was keen to get us into his wine bar. More often than not, our Saturday evenings would consist of a tandoori before popping into Mike's wine bar for a beverage or two with mates and always Webby, Barrett and Lawson keeping us company. Being a military man, Mike was always trying to coerce us into going on one of his end of season tours. Mike was a raconteur of note and a great team man, a friend and loyal to us overseas pros. Great memories abound. He loved the club and the stalwarts who played such a large part in its success, on and off the pitch. He will be sorely missed.” Jerry Holt added: "Mike's business interests often took him away from Lymington but he always retained a close attachment to the town and the club. Whilst sometimes brusque and slightly eccentric, Mike was a kind and generous man and he will be much missed by his family and friends and all at Lymington Cricket Club".

Mike’s memorial service takes place on Monday 7th September at All Saints' Church, Milford on Sea 12 noon. This will be followed by a wake at South Lawns Hotel.