Michael Henry Brooks

23 OCTOBER 1935 – 26 OCTOBER 2019

It is with great sadness that we have to report the death of Michael Brooks, the founder of Masterpiece Models, after several months of illness. Michael died peacefully surrounded by his family.

Michael had a long career in civil aviation working his way into senior managerial positions in market research and marketing at BOAC and subsequently British Airways. An early project saw Michael’s work used as research evidence for the Washington Congressional hearings on Concorde landing rights in the USA. In his final role he had responsibility for major commercial operations in North America for BA.

Michael always had a passion for railways, particularly steam locomotives. He was an avid collector of railwayana, much of which came from closed lines in East Anglia which were always especially dear to him. Michael wrote several articles for railway journals including a well-researched item on the GWR/BR Western Region ‘Castle’ locomotives named after World War 2 aircraft.

Michael became an early member of the Scale7 Group modelling the Great Eastern in the early 1950s. He had a wonderful Great Eastern Scale7 layout, ‘Monks Eleigh’, based on a planned but never built line in Suffolk.

In 2007 Michael established Masterpiece Models. From 2007 to 2016 he produced nearly 950 top quality 7mm:1ft scale British outline model locomotives. These models were rapidly acknowledged for setting entirely new standards in the ready-to-run market. They were, and still are, in great demand. To the end Michael continued to take a great interest in Masterpiece Models. We met up regularly for discussions on aviation and trains. He also had a great interest in political events in the UK and around the world.

Michael will be sorely missed by all his friends. We extend our condolences to Miriam, Melissa, Michele and Matthew and all the members of his family.

John Borkowski
29 October 2019