Personality Profile: Mike Dobson
Mike Dobson, known to many as ‘Marathon Man’ for the many gruelling marathons he has run for charity (‘Number 12 coming up!’), is equally well known as ‘Canny Cyclist’ for his avid commitment to pedal power. But, it is as ‘The Fairtrade Fella’ that he is perhaps better known at the Cathedral.
A Manchunian by birth, Mike, who has an elder sister Clare, was brought up in the Lake District (‘That must be why I’m a keen hill walker’). Having been educated by Augustinian Friars in Carlisle, Mike then joined the Navy (‘Twenty-six years man and boy’), initially as a submariner, later ‘going up in the world to surface vessels’ and still works for the navy as a civil servant doing operational analysis
In addition to his university qualifications (London), Mike is an accomplished linguist, holding the Diploma in Translation (French) of the Chartered Institute of Linguists.
The Dobsons (wife: Margaret; sons Richard and Nick) have lived in the Cathedral parish since 1988. It is at the Cathedral in particular that Mike has been instrumental in establishing Fairtrade: ‘For those interested in a challenge in life’, Mike breaks into a smile, ’now that you know a little more about me, I challenge you to learn a little bit more about Fairtrade … and you were thinking I was going to challenge you to run a marathon with me! Well, that too, if you like’.