On Wednesday, 21st February, like always, Michal (Mike) left our yard with a smile and a bounce in his step to deliver flooring to his customers on the south coast. A few hours later, there was a horrific accident on the M27, and through no fault of his own, Mike lost his life.
About a decade ago, Mike moved to the UK from Poland to make a new life for himself. After living in Salisbury for a few years and making friends, he asked his brother Rafal (Raf) to join him. The two brothers had set out on an adventure, and we feel privileged that they both found their way to Salesmark West. To those who knew Mike and Raf, you can see their good character. Their Mum and Dad had instilled in them the importance of hard work, respect and loyalty.
Mike drove a van for several years, but his dream was to be a lorry driver. Through hard work and never giving up at the tail end of last year, Mike overcame his diabetes and the language barrier and passed his HGV class 2 test. Mike was a man who always wore a smile and for whom nothing was too much trouble. The hole he leaves in our team and the hearts of the people who knew him can never be filled. A uniquely kind, generous and larger-than-life character has been snatched from us.
However, the hole left in Raf's life is more than the emotional loss of a dearly loved brother. Mike and Raf rented a house and a car together and shared all the bills. Raf has the sad reality that he has to manage this by himself as he has also lost his financial partner.
We have been blown away by the love, affection and kind words expressed about Mike, our driver, colleague and friend. As a legacy to Mike, we would love to see a financially secure future for Raf in Salisbury. To continue the journey and adventure, Mike started all those years ago.
