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Former regional reporter and board game inventor dies aged 81

A former regional press journalist who was also known as a prolific inventor of board and card games has died aged 81.

Tributes have been paid to Mike Woods, who worked for the Gloucestershire and the Evesham Journal during a career which also saw him work in public relations for cider company Bulmers.

He worked at the Echo in the 1960s and 1970s, where he was based in Tewkesbury for the newspaper.

Outside of journalism, he was one of the UK’s premier games inventors, with a portfolio of more than 100 games. He had partners in Australia, Canada, the USA, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and India.

Mike Woods with some of the games he invented

Mike Woods with some of the games he invented

His widow Jan told the Echo: “I would like to say that Mike had a great sense of humour and huge enthusiasm for life.

“His passion for games was such that he was always hoping that each game he invented would be the next Scrabble or Monopoly.

“He was positive in everything that he did. He wrote various children’s books and sent them off to the agents in hope that one would be successful.

“I certainly believe that his games, books and the golf kept him very young at heart. It was such a shock as we all thought he was improving. I shall miss him so much.”

Mike died in Cheltenham General Hospital after a short illness and his funeral was held at the town’s crematorium last Tuesday.

He is survived by Jan, children Clare, Paul and Julian and grandchildren Ben, Lucy, Elisse and Thomas. He also leaves behind his brother, Barry.

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  • August 10, 2016 at 3:46 pm
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    Lovely man, I first met him as a teenager when a family friend took me to meet him at his home in Tewkesbury. Later on I worked with him briefly before our jobs took us in different directions. Mike had boundless enthusiasm for news, for games development and for his family. Very sad news and astonished Mike was 81.

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