11/03/2026
๐๐ข๐ค๐ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ (๐๐๐ฉ๐ญ๐๐ข๐ง ๐๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ซ๐) ๐๐/๐๐/๐๐๐๐ โ ๐๐/๐๐/๐๐๐๐
Despite my many years as a writer, I struggle to find the words to express the profound feelings of sadness and despondency that overwhelmed my wife Mandy and I on hearing of the sudden death of our friend Mike Hood on the 12th of February 2026.
We were celebrating our wedding anniversary in Egypt when we received a call from Pete Walker of East Yorkshire MAG informing us of Mikeโs sudden death earlier that day. The news initially left us too shocked and choked up to speak!
I know Pete hated breaking such tragic news to us during our holiday, but he also knew how dearly we loved Mike and how devastating it would have been for us to learn of his sudden death via the soulless morass of social media.
Later, as the sun set over the Red Sea, we raised our mocktails to him as โHurry On Sundownโ by his beloved Hawkwind played in the background.
Mike was ubiquitously known and loved by so many people on the UK motorcycle rally scene as โCaptain Smurfโ though to us he was simply โThe Capโnโ. He was a truly gentle and kind-hearted man whose diminutive physical stature belied his immense character and the enormous regard in which he was held by thousands of bikers throughout the UK.
The Capโn was instantly recognisable at rallies and events in his weather-beaten leather fedora, badge covered cut-off, his ever-present wry smile and the ubiquitous long lensed camera slung around his neck.
Without doubt he was most widely known for his skill as a photographer. His innate ability to record moments of unmitigated joy and magnificent spontaneous character portraits, while remaining quietly invisible to the subject, allowed him to capture thousands of superb, extemporaneous and intimate, snapshots of the biker lifestyle over more than three decades.
For many people, being the subject of a photo by Captain Smurf was considered a badge of honour in itself!
As a merchant seaman The Capโn had seen a great deal more of the world than most of us ever will. Whether sailing huge freight ships through the Suez Canal or skippering somewhat smaller, though no less impressive scientific survey ships through the most unpredictable and dangerous seas on the planet, he had witnessed at first-hand the oceanโs greatest wonders and its most terrifying power. The former he happily shared with us less fortunate souls through his excellent wildlife photography, and the latter he would rarely discuss willingly, no matter how much Pussers Rum I plied him with!
The Capโn and I became friends some 35-years ago, initially hitting-it-off due to a shared love of motorcycling, a common belief in the aims of the National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD) and The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG), together with a mutual appreciation of good quality rum (for which, we were both blessed with prodigious capacity).
I introduced Mandy to the Capโn about ten years ago and they immediately became firm friends, instantly revelling in their reciprocal โjoie de vivreโ every time they met.
On their first meeting Mandy had asked why, when she saw so many photos taken by The Capโn, she never saw any photos of The Capโn himself. From then on, it became a tradition that he would hand over his camera every time they met at an event so she could take a photo of him.
He was also an inveterate fan of my Smacked Arse Comedy Shows, which in turn led to many of the stand-up comedians featured in those shows over the past 30-years being blessed with excellent top-quality, live action publicity photographs taken by The Capโn. I know many of them, will be deeply saddened to hear of his untimely death at just 65 years-of-age.
The motorcycle rally scene in the UK has been blessed with many iconic characters over the past fifty years, but I can think of very few who have been held in such fond regard by so many people as Capโn Smurf. He is certainly one of the nicest and finest human beings it has ever been my privilege to know, and I feel truly blessed to have enjoyed his friendship.
The thought of never seeing The Capโn again is simply too upsetting to contemplate at present, and I am struggling greatly with the realisation that our glorious conversations have now come to an end.
I donโt doubt that his absence will be sorely felt by many at this yearโs most iconic rallies.
The UK bike scene cannot help but be tangibly diminished for his absence and, for many of us, the world will be a less joyous place for the lack of his ever-ready smile and his radiant golden soul.
I knew The Capโn had been battling with severe chest problems since early 2025. His growing frustration with how this was interfering with his attendance at events had been evident in our most recent conversations. I understand from his sisters that the cause of his death was a heart attack brought on by ischemic heart disease.
The Capโn is survived by his mother, two sisters and a number of nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews, who were sources of great joy to him. My heart and my condolences go out to each and every one of them for their loss.
RIP Capโn, you will always hold a place of love and honour in my heart.
๐๐ข๐๐ค ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ฌ๐
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