Douglas
Alexander Carmichael – “Sandy”Sandy Carmichael died 3rd October 2009 just
a few weeks short of his 90th birthday.
After early years spent in Waterpark Road, Prenton, Sandy grew up in the family
home in Quarry Road East, Heswall.
He attended Birkenhead School 1931-1936 where the foundations were laid for many
lifelong friendships and he excelled at Rugby and played for OBFC both before
and after WW2.
After volunteering for service in the Indian Army, he was posted to the First
Battalion Prince of Wales Own Sikhs, 12th Frontier Force Regiment where he
attained the rank of Captain.
On leaving the Army in 1946, he became a member of the “Piffer” Association for
those who had served in the Punjab Frontier Force. The “Piffers” had their last
reunion lunch in Chelsea on 27th May 2000 where Sandy and Mu were photographed
alongside “Viscount Slim”
Back in civilian life, Sandy joined the family firm John R Carmichael Ltd in
Norris Green, Liverpool where he was known as “Mr Douglas” and he developed the
export market for the business which took him on trips as far afield as New
Zealand, Malaysia and Australia.
In the 1950’s he acquired a share in a racehorse called “Red Menace” who ran in
the 1957 Grand National. It took Bechers Brook in its stride and was in second
place to Sundew, the eventual winner, when it fell at the 10th fence!
Sandy met Mu in the midfifties and they married in 1961, enjoying over 40 years
together before Mu died in 2009.
After the War, Sandy with others set about reforming the Old Birkonian Football
Club and after playing 1st XV rugby, he went on to play for Cheshire. He
continued to be involved in OBFC for many years, helping with coaching and was
always very welcoming to the many young members who joined from School in the
50’s and 60’s.
He held many administrative posts including that of President and was
particularly prominent in the running of The Birkenhead Horse Show being the
inaugural secretary and eventually chairman of this annual event, run entirely
by the Football Club and attracting upto 10,000 visitors at it’s peak in the
early 60’s.
Sandy and Mu were members of the Birkenhead Squash Racquets Club for many years,
Sandy eventually becoming President.
They became familiar figures at the Squash Club, The Constitutional Club and The
Bowler Hat where many OB friendships were nurtured and Sandy was first up for
the Annual Club Hotpots and Dinners.
Sandy made many friends through his many interests and will always be remembered
as a gentlemen
and a friend by all who knew him.
