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Former daily journalist who befriended Buzz Aldrin dies aged 51

Michael HanlonA former daily journalist who was friends with astronaut Buzz Aldrin and was building a dinosaur-themed tourist attraction has died aged 51.

Tributes have been paid to Michael Hanlon, who worked on Belfast-based daily the Irish News before embarking on a national press career during which he was once chased by a rhinoceros while on assignment in Africa.

Michael suffered a fatal heart attack while leaving a board meeting of Jurassica, a project he founded to create an animatronic dinosaur-filled recreation of the Dorset coast as it was 150 million years ago.

He left full-time journalism several years ago, after a decade as the Daily Mail’s science editor – as well as spending time with the Independent, Daily Express and Daily Telegraph.

Michael was born in Bristol and lost his father at a young age.

Educated in Bournemouth, he spent his boyhood fossil hunting along the cliffs of Dorset’s Jurassic Coast and went on to Dundee University, where he read Earth Sciences. He qualified as a teacher at Exeter University and studied journalism at Camborne, Cornwall.

His wife Elena, to whom he was married for 25 years, was the daughter of a Bulgarian foreign correspondent and when her family was posted back there, Michael took a job teaching English in Greece.

Elena was then offered a place at Queen’s University Belfast, so he took a job as a geography teacher in the city, before taking on a sub-editing role at the News, seen as a nationalist paper with a predominantly Catholic readership.

Michael’s obituary in the Telegraph reads: “The Troubles were not quite over and this was the Catholic community’s daily paper, so it was a somewhat strange place to find a well-spoken Englishman; but Hanlon was nothing if not unconventional.

“He was soon transferred to the reporters’ pool and cut his teeth covering serious unrest during the Drumcree marching season, when his news editor described him as ‘a dream reporter who could write well about anything.'”

After moving to London to work on the nationals, befriended Edwin ‘Buzz’ Aldrin, the second man on the Moon, and told how a barman once answered a telephone call from the astronaut when he left his mobile behind. Having asked who was calling, “Buzz Aldrin” came the reply. “Sure, and I’m Neil Armstrong,” said the barman.

After leaving full-time journalism, Michael devoted himself to the £80m Jurassica project, with plans to open in a disused quarry on the isle of Portland in Dorset by 2021.

The Telegraph’s obituary continues: “Hanlon had that rare gift of being able to explain an esoteric story with clarity and infectious enthusiasm. He could also write with an unmatched speed. His machine-gun typing style could be both mesmerising and slightly intimidating to his colleagues.

“He stood by his beliefs and would not be bent to an editorial line. But if he thought that his views were, in fact, misguided he would not shy from admitting his mistake.

“All his endeavours were infused with determination and vigour. Once, while on assignment in Africa, he was chased through the bush by an angry rhinoceros. He survived by outrunning the beast uphill until, exhausted, it gave up.”

Michael, who died last month, was married to Elena for 25 years. She survives him with their son, Zachary. In the last year of his life his partner was a colleague at the Jurassica project, Alison Smith.

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  • March 15, 2016 at 2:11 pm
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    It’s very sad to read about Michael – a nice, self-effacing, quiet and highly intelligent, yet modest, man with a great sense of humour. I worked with him on the Irish News where he was known, affectionately, as “English Mick”. Michael was one of the first subs to fully embrace the digital revolution and it was no surprise that, having entered journalism relatively late on, he would make a success of his new career. My deepest sympathies to all those who knew and loved him.

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