March 25th, 2010
FE Prospectus shortlisted!
We're chuffed our Further Education prospectus for Mid Cheshire College has been shortlisted in the Heist Awards. This year the internationally renowned awards are celebrating their 20th anniversary, with the awards ceremony taking place at the Palace Hotel, Manchester on Thursday 27th May.
Fingers crossed!
March 17th, 2010
Portrait of the artist as adman
A fine artist who happened to work in advertising is one of the simpler ways to sum up Michel Huet. Even in his schooldays at Ryder Brow in Gorton (Myra Hindley was a fellow pupil) he held art exhibitions in his back yard, and on one famous occasion, while his parents were away, he painted a replica of the Sistine Chapel on their bedroom ceiling.
LS Lowry praised his work at Salford College of Art, and throughout his working life Mich sketches and scamps had a delicate beauty all of their own. They were his true medium, even more than the award-winning ads they often became. He often whiled away dull meetings by creating brilliant impromptu portraits of those around the table.
Clothes were another passion. He was, after all, the son of an emigre tailor who came to Manchester from Belgium just after the war. On any given day at work he might turn up in a suit and tie, one of his famous spectacular shirts or ripped jeans decorated with the perfect symbol of his mischievous nature, Bart Simpson.
His CV suggests that he worked at a lot of agencies in a forty-year career, starting at Gee Advertising, The Buchanan Company, Huet Timmins, Huet & Co and latterly Huet Aminto. The truth is that they were all simply Huet, regardless of name or ownership.
Nobody who met Mich him ever forgot him. It was impossible to walk with him around Manchester without bumping into an acquaintance, and he rarely entered a restaurant without being greeted as an old friend by a waiter or maitre d.
Pitching and presenting to clients with him was exhilarating. Account handlers (always referred to as ‘the grownups’) soon learned that if they told him expressly not to say something in the meeting, he would make a point of saying it. Telling him not to present a particularly outrageous layout was equally futile. Even more gallingly, he always got away with it.
In fact clients loved him, delighted to be associated with all that creativity and passion. And Mich’s attitude to clients was that they were his personal possessions. Losing an account was an affront that simply had to be put right and his persistence was superhuman. A certain clothing company was still receiving regular phone calls from him at least twenty years after he had last done a job for them.
That’s what makes me think that, if there’s a Heaven, Mich will be in it. Because otherwise, the great grownup in the sky will be getting an almighty earbashing for the rest of eternity.
March 15th, 2010
Our website changes colour in memory of Mich
Any colour but black this week!
March 10th, 2010
Your love for Mich
Hannah and I would like to thank most sincerely everyone who has sent cards, emails, texts, flowers and love to us since Mich died. We have found great comfort in your words, we have laughed at your many Mich stories and we share your grief.
Mich was passionate about his work, it simply was his life, an artist and adman through and through! He especially loved the people with whom he worked throughout his long and industrious career and particularly those he trained and encouraged. He could spot a budding star better than anyone I've ever known, and there are many hundreds of you that he inspired along the way.
I thank you all, because you made it all worthwhile for him. You made work fun and we all know that FUN WORKS! So keep it up and remember if you are having a grey day just wear an outstandingly bright shirt and the world will seem a better place.
Cheers to you all and cheers Mich, we love and miss you.
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"He'll be sorely missed, and it was a pleasure and privilege to work with him for the brief time I did." John Green
"A lovely man who will be sadly missed." Mike Swallow
"Such a huge loss to this world. God bless Mich - he'll live on in spirit I'm sure." Michelle Crow
"Really sad to hear, it's a real loss." Jerry Gross
"Very very sad news, A great loss." Chris Gaffie
"Mich was an inspiration and a funny and warming guy to go with it. I learnt so much from him and everyone has a very memorable moment being in his company." Mark Jones
"I was working with Mich at Huet and Co. from 2006 to 2007. During my placement year at Huet, I've been touched by his soul. He was smart in his jokes, creative in all projects, fun to be with and very caring to the others. To me, he had been a great mentor and a very best friend. Fun works!
What a great philosophy! His optimism and energetic attitude towards life and work made him an idol to me." Yu Chen
"He was certainly a character and will be missed." Jane Ashley
"So sorry to hear about Mich. I worked for him at Buchanans. He was a brilliantly talented and funny bloke - I'll never forget the day he threw his undies out of the window. Top man and supreme prankster. Sad, sad loss." Doug Wood
"I will always remember Mich as a warm, humorous and extremely talented guy. His legacy lives on in the huge contribution he made to the Creative well being of Manchester, what others were doing today, Mich had usually done last week." David Draycott
"What a sad loss. The business will be less colourful without him. He was a real pleasure to know and work with. Our thoughts are with Mich's family." Ste Longdon
"MISS YOU MISH, YOU LITTLE MARVEL. Condolences to all at Huetaminto and especially to all his family. He was a one-off." Wil Rolands
"Was lucky enough to work with Mich twice, and was sorry to hear of his death. Please pass on my condolences to everyone. He was a lovely man and will be missed." Chris Cowling aka fagash (he gave me that nickname)
"Mich was, and always will be, held in the very highest regard by myself and within the advertising industry and was inspirational not only to me but to many other designers, young and old who had the pleasure of knowing him.
It is always a bigger loss, the bigger the personality, and Mich certainly had a huge personality." Ben Gerrard
"In the short time that I knew him he was a sincere character with a love of life. We will miss his innuendos, creativity and contribution to our business." Tim Deathridge
"I will never forget the day I met Mich, being interviewed by Jenny & Amanda, interview over and those famous words "we'd just like to introduce you to our creative director!!!!" in walks Michel in possibly the most colourful & flowery shirt i'd ever seen... "Nice to meet you" I say " "well I don't know about you yet" He replied! How Cheeky ha! but that was Mich all over, never a dull moment, always a cheeky smile......... I'm gonna miss the opportunity to sit on his knee!" Emma Golpys
"Mich...Colourful, creative and one of the true characters of Manchester advertising. A great guy and a big loss." Hugh Wheeldon
"Mich was a splendid man, great fun, honest and open. I am very sorry I didn't get to see more of him." David Gorton
"Just to say how sorry I am to hear the sad news that Mich passed away. I will remember him fondly." Simon
"Just wanted to say how very sorry I am to hear about Mich. He was such a lovely, lovely man. I was lucky enough to work with him at Huet and Co for a couple of years. My thoughts go out to Kate and Hannah. Such sad news." Lindsey Booth
"Just wanted to say how very sad I was to hear the news, suddenly somehow, the world doesn't seem quite as bright a place." David Gerrard
"Mich was a frequent visitor to Tom Bowers Photographic studio where I worked in the late 70's - 80's. His ideas, ahead of their time, were always an inspiration and shaped the way we all thought about advertising.
His quirky, fun and flamboyant character made for interesting days creating great ads. Mich had the gift to lift spirits both visually and verbally and the vision of him floating into parties wearing his favourite long Burberry raincoat is a lasting one! Very happy memories mixed with sadness, on hearing the passing of Mich." Julie Paisey
"I have known Michel since we met up at Salford School of Art in 1960. Cheerio my clever, witty, resourceful and brilliant friend.
"Shine on you crazy diamond." Love, Paul. XX
"I still haven't got over the sad news of Mich's death. Even though I knew how ill he'd been I still cant get over the fact that he's gone. I thought he was immortal, I think he did as well.
When I started in this business 41 years ago as a young artist Mich was already making a name for himself as an uncompromising talented Art Director at Gee Advertising in Albert Square. He very soon became a hero of mine and remains so to this day. while he was alive I could take comfort that there was a Creative Director older than me. Shit ! Time to put the tops on the Magic Markers." Phil Atkinson
"Mich was a huge influence on me both professionally and personally. I worked at Huet & Co for 4 years, during which time I met both my best friend and my husband. I have loads of fond memories of Mich - he was talented and daft and probably one of the most prolific creatives I’ve ever met. He was a real life Peter Pan: young in his heart and his head, always open to fresh ideas and fresh influences which kept him vibrant. Mich was fun to work with and he inspired me to stick with my chosen career. Thanks Mich – you may be gone but you’ll never be forgotten x." Emma Shore
March 8th, 2010
Mich passes away
Mich's passing will leave a huge void for everyone who knew him – "his idiosyncrasies made him unforgettable and his generosity and encouragement to students and young creatives is an example to all."
The funeral is next Wednesday at 12 noon at St Mark’s Church, Dunham Massey. It will be a celebration of Mich’s life and very definitely NOT a black affair. The request is that the family don’t really want to see any black at all. Lets make it colourful!! Everyone is welcome and there will be a bash afterwards.
March 1st, 2010
We’re all thinkin of ya!
Came across this of Mich cool or what...Easy Rider
The story goes that he was on a Wranglers shoot and was looking for some bikers and guess what he found some. Mich being cheeky just asked he got his shot then shot one of for his own self portrait...