1949 Moved to The Royal Fort pub in Bermondsey and joined the Oxford & Bermondsey Club (no longer extant).
1952 Moved to The Salway Arms (pub), Angel Lane, Stratford Broadway, East London. Traveled back to Bermondsey to finish "O" level classes. Joined West Ham Piscatorial Society. Famous Theatre Royal 1/2 block away on Angel Lane. Worked in pub until 1955 and joined the Royal Air Force for five years. Working in pub did not agree with me. (Angel Lane and the pub no longer extant) [Angel Lane was torn down in 1970. For a map and guide to Angel Lane at the time Michael lived there, see http [NOT https]://jcgl.orpheusweb.co.uk/history/Stratford/AngelLane/AngelLane.html]
1955 Joined RAF and became an aero engine mechanic.
1960 Honorable discharge from RAF and worked for Mann Egerton, a Rolls Royce dealership in Kings Cross London, where I rented an apartment. Started double bass lessons with John Cooper, sub-principal of Covent Garden Opera House. Played in local pub with pianist to gain experience: (Queen's Head, still there according to Google Earth).
1962 Started working with piano and drums and doing vocals in pubs and later in a West End night club. In 1963 took first trip on Queen Mary, exchanging places with permanent bass player Archie McNab (a Scot).
1964 Left London for two years for Jersey in the Channel Islands.
1966/67 Based in New York on Queen Elizabeth. Then returned to London and played around town and worked P&O Lines and Cunard Lines boats.
1974 Left London for America with National Theatre.