{"id":473337,"date":"2026-03-10T17:05:26","date_gmt":"2026-03-10T17:05:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/?p=473337"},"modified":"2026-03-10T17:13:57","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T17:13:57","slug":"a-true-bermondsey-diamond-social-club-owner-and-community-leader-mick-hannon-passes-away-aged-67-after-short-battle-with-cancer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/rotherhithe\/a-true-bermondsey-diamond-social-club-owner-and-community-leader-mick-hannon-passes-away-aged-67-after-short-battle-with-cancer\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;A true Bermondsey diamond&#8217; social club owner and community leader Mick Hannon passes away aged 67 after short battle with cancer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Bermondsey and Rotherhithe are mourning the loss of a much-loved character who entertained local families at his church social club and worked hard to represent his community on the council. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Michael Hannon, better known to his friends and family as Mick &#8211; sadly passed away on 15 February aged just 67, after a short four-month battle with cancer.<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"69959\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448384\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">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<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>Mick was born to a large Bermondsey Irish family on 9 February 1959,  the second-oldest of five children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-southwark-news wp-block-embed-southwark-news\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"m9iOrW1TFzXRKYaJbtIGD87vSgZey4xMu0hplwqcQfH53nCBVPAEs\"><blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"Nz9E5nqe3n\"><a href=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/bermondsey\/bermondsey-boy-reunited-with-60-year-old-dandy-comic-he-starred-in\/\">Bermondsey boy reunited with 60-year-old Dandy comic he starred in<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Bermondsey boy reunited with 60-year-old Dandy comic he starred in&#8221; &#8212; Southwark News\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/bermondsey\/bermondsey-boy-reunited-with-60-year-old-dandy-comic-he-starred-in\/embed\/#?secret=JosQCxeftA#?secret=Nz9E5nqe3n\" data-secret=\"Nz9E5nqe3n\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Mick grew up on Swan Road in Rotherhithe, attending St Joseph\u2019s Primary School on Paradise Street, followed by St Michael\u2019s Catholic School in Dockhead but is best known as the man in charge of the social club in St Peter &amp; the Guardian Angels Church on Paradise Street, which he ran for 22 years.<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"68153\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448385\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtMTkxOTYyMzEzNyIgY2xhc3M9InNvdXRoLWNvbnRlbnQgc291dGgtZW50aXR5LXBsYWNlbWVudCIgc3R5bGU9Im1hcmdpbi1sZWZ0OiBhdXRvO21hcmdpbi1yaWdodDogYXV0bzt0ZXh0LWFsaWduOiBjZW50ZXI7Ij48IS0tICAvMTU0NzI1MDcwLDIyNjk0MTk2OTY5L3NvdXRod2Fya25ld3Mvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cyAtLT4NCjxkaXYgaWQ9ImRpdi1ncHQtYWQtMngxIj4NCjxzY3JpcHQ+DQpnb29nbGV0YWcuY21kLnB1c2goZnVuY3Rpb24oKSB7IGdvb2dsZXRhZy5kaXNwbGF5KCdkaXYtZ3B0LWFkLTJ4MScpOyB9KTsNCjwvc2NyaXB0Pg0KPC9kaXY+ICAgICAgICAgIDwvZGl2Pg==<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>Truly a family affair he took over the club from his parents in 2001, and ran it up until his retirement three years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The club would host events for church members and the wider community, and was famous for its popular quiz nights which Mick would preside over as quizmaster.<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"71156\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448386\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtMzg5MTQ5Mzg4NSIgY2xhc3M9InNvdXRoLWluLWFydGljbGUtbXB1OSBzb3V0aC1lbnRpdHktcGxhY2VtZW50Ij48IS0tICAvMTU0NzI1MDcwLDIyNjk0MTk2OTY5L3NvdXRod2Fya25ld3Mvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cyAtLT4NCjxkaXYgaWQ9ImRpdi1ncHQtYWQtbXB1OSI+DQo8c2NyaXB0Pg0KZ29vZ2xldGFnLmNtZC5wdXNoKGZ1bmN0aW9uKCkgeyBnb29nbGV0YWcuZGlzcGxheSgnZGl2LWdwdC1hZC1tcHU5Jyk7IH0pOw0KPC9zY3JpcHQ+DQo8L2Rpdj4gICAgIDwvZGl2Pg==<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>Mick lived with his wife Lorraine off St James\u2019s Road in Bermondsey, where they raised their two daughters, Sophie and Emma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most of his siblings later moved out to Sidcup &#8211; something Mick \u201cthought about a few times but he never would have left the area,\u201d according to his daughter Emma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She described her Dad as having a \u201cbubbly personality, he was a joker. He didn\u2019t take no rubbish either. He\u2019d happily put you in your place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHe was a good husband and lovely dad. His wife, children and grandchildren all adored him.\u201d<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"71157\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448387\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtMTg2NzU5NjY0IiBjbGFzcz0ic291dGgtaW4tYXJ0aWNsZS1tcHUtMTAgc291dGgtZW50aXR5LXBsYWNlbWVudCI+PCEtLSAgLzE1NDcyNTA3MCwyMjY5NDE5Njk2OS9zb3V0aHdhcmtuZXdzL3NvdXRod2Fya25ld3MgLS0+DQo8ZGl2IGlkPSJkaXYtZ3B0LWFkLW1wdTEwIj4NCjxzY3JpcHQ+DQpnb29nbGV0YWcuY21kLnB1c2goZnVuY3Rpb24oKSB7IGdvb2dsZXRhZy5kaXNwbGF5KCdkaXYtZ3B0LWFkLW1wdTEwJyk7IH0pOw0KPC9zY3JpcHQ+DQo8L2Rpdj4gICAgIDwvZGl2Pg==<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>As a young man in his 20s, Mick would go on to play a key part in transforming the fortunes of the local Liberal Party in Bermondsey at a time when a little known politician called Simon Hughes won the area&#8217;s parliamentary seat, knocking Labour out of a seat that contained their own party headquarters on the Walworth Road.   <\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"431\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Unknown-431x560.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-473341\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.769655729973725;width:461px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Unknown-431x560.jpeg 431w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Unknown-216x280.jpeg 216w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Unknown-768x997.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Unknown-112x146.jpeg 112w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Unknown-750x974.jpeg 750w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Unknown.jpeg 945w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 431px) 100vw, 431px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Mick Hannon.  Credit &#8211; Sophie Hannon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>In 1980, he became the Chair of the Bermondsey Liberal Party. In 1985 he was elected to represent Riverside ward, becoming one of the first four Liberal councillors in Southwark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1986 Mick secured re-election for a four year-term &#8211; the same year in which the Liberals gained 15 councillors in Southwark, becoming the largest opposition party in the council.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At that time the political force that is today known as the Liberal Democrats did not yet exist as a single unified party. Instead, they operated as the&nbsp;SDP\u2013Liberal Alliance.&nbsp;It was under this banner that Simon Hughes was elected MP in 1983. The party was  an electoral pact between two distinct parties, the Liberal Party led by David Steel and the Social Democratic Party led by David Owen. The two parties formally merged in 1988 to create the&nbsp;Social and Liberal Democrats, which officially adopted the name&nbsp;Liberal Democrats&nbsp;the following year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sir Simon Hughes, the MP for North Southwark and Bermondsey from 1983-2015, described Mick as a \u201ckey player in the transformation of the Liberal Party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAn early member and helper, Mick was Bermondsey Liberal Party Chairman in the decade when we won the parliamentary and first Southwark Council seats,&#8221; he said. <\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"751\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Unknown-4-751x560.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-473342\" style=\"width:625px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Unknown-4-751x560.jpeg 751w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Unknown-4-375x280.jpeg 375w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Unknown-4-768x573.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Unknown-4-196x146.jpeg 196w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Unknown-4-750x559.jpeg 750w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Unknown-4.jpeg 960w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 751px) 100vw, 751px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Mick was a supporter of West Ham football club.  Credit &#8211; Sophie Hannon <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>\u201cOn the council no-one stood up more for the local community than Mick, and as an opposition councillor he took the fight to Labour as much as anyone has done in the last 40 years. Without Mick and people like him, Liberals would never have won so many elections from 1983 onwards. Our communities and our borough owe him so much,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"408\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Unknown-8-408x560.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-473343\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.7285735940579051;width:497px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Unknown-8-408x560.jpeg 408w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Unknown-8-204x280.jpeg 204w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Unknown-8-768x1053.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Unknown-8-1120x1536.jpeg 1120w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Unknown-8-106x146.jpeg 106w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Unknown-8-750x1028.jpeg 750w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Unknown-8.jpeg 1123w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 408px) 100vw, 408px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Mick as a young man.  Credit &#8211; Sophie Hannon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"418\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-10-at-15.00.37-418x560.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-473344\" style=\"width:496px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-10-at-15.00.37-418x560.png 418w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-10-at-15.00.37-209x280.png 209w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-10-at-15.00.37-768x1029.png 768w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-10-at-15.00.37-109x146.png 109w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-10-at-15.00.37-750x1005.png 750w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-10-at-15.00.37.png 794w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 418px) 100vw, 418px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Mick with his wife and two daughters.  L-R:  Emma Hannon, Mick Hannon, Lorraine Hannon (Mick&#8217;s wife), and Sophie Hannon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Describing Mick as a \u201ctrue Bermondsey diamond\u201d, Sir Simon continued: \u201cHe was the most loyal, straight-talking, principled, witty and wise friend anyone could have. I am privileged that we were friends for over 40 years. Part of a great Bermondsey Irish Roman Catholic family &#8211; son, brother, husband, father and grandfather &#8211; Mick was also a much appreciated colleague &#8211; as council officer, Carlton and BT engineer and Department of Work and Pensions work coach &#8211; a post he held up to his death. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Hundreds also knew him as the person for years running one of the best Bermondsey social clubs &#8211; in St Peter&#8217;s Paradise Street church hall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOur communities and our borough owe him so much. And we send his devoted wife Lorraine and all his family our deep condolences that cancer took him so quickly. But the contribution made by this great character and lovely big guy will never be forgotten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There will be a funeral for Mick at St Peter and the Guardian Angels next Friday (20th March) at 10:30 am.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The cremation will be in Brenchley Gardens, followed by a reception in the Salt Quay in Rotherhithe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-southwark-news wp-block-embed-southwark-news\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"TkHIySNjC495f2YXCGxfkuKLthcQwViminrWs97WQc18Dq0OsJzY3R02FTSRaglM\"><blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"uAOb2qECOz\"><a href=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/rotherhithe\/bermondsey-and-proud-but-it-steves-fight-for-rotherhithes-russia-dock-woodlands-that-has-been-his-biggest-accompaniment\/\">Bermondsey and proud, but it Steve&#8217;s fight for Rotherhithe&#8217;s Russia Dock Woodlands that has been his biggest accompaniment<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Bermondsey and proud, but it Steve&#8217;s fight for Rotherhithe&#8217;s Russia Dock Woodlands that has been his biggest accompaniment&#8221; &#8212; Southwark News\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/rotherhithe\/bermondsey-and-proud-but-it-steves-fight-for-rotherhithes-russia-dock-woodlands-that-has-been-his-biggest-accompaniment\/embed\/#?secret=EXZVfYlTbe#?secret=uAOb2qECOz\" data-secret=\"uAOb2qECOz\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bermondsey and Rotherhithe are mourning the loss of a much-loved character who entertained local families at his church social club and worked hard to represent his community on the council. Michael Hannon, better known to his friends and family as Mick &#8211; sadly passed away on 15 February aged just 67, after a short four-month [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19207,"featured_media":473341,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":{"format":"standard","override":[{"template":"1","parallax":"1","fullscreen":"1","layout":"right-sidebar","sidebar":"default-sidebar","second_sidebar":"default-sidebar","sticky_sidebar":"1","share_position":"top","share_float_style":"share-monocrhome","show_share_counter":"1","show_view_counter":"1","show_featured":"1","show_post_meta":"1","show_post_author":"1","show_post_author_image":"1","show_post_date":"1","post_date_format":"default","post_date_format_custom":"Y\/m\/d","show_post_category":"1","show_post_reading_time":"0","post_reading_time_wpm":"300","post_calculate_word_method":"str_word_count","show_zoom_button":"0","zoom_button_out_step":"2","zoom_button_in_step":"3","show_post_tag":"1","show_prev_next_post":"1","show_popup_post":"1","show_comment_section":"1","number_popup_post":"1","show_author_box":"1","show_inline_post_related":"1"}],"image_override":[{"single_post_thumbnail_size":"crop-500","single_post_gallery_size":"crop-500"}],"trending_post_position":"meta","trending_post_label":"Trending","sponsored_post_label":"Sponsored by","disable_ad":"0","subtitle":"He ran the very popular St Peter & the Guardian Angels Church social club on Paradise Street "},"jnews_primary_category":{"id":"65"},"jnews_social_meta":[],"jnews_override_counter":{"view_counter_number":"0","share_counter_number":"0","like_counter_number":"0","dislike_counter_number":"0"},"footnotes":""},"categories":[65,7375,13539,13602,18168,17333,13543,41],"tags":[17949,18403,18020],"class_list":["post-473337","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bermondsey","category-community","category-featured","category-news","category-nostalgia","category-obituaries","category-politics","category-rotherhithe","tag-bermondsey","tag-obituary","tag-rotherhithe"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/473337","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19207"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=473337"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/473337\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":473388,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/473337\/revisions\/473388"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/473341"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=473337"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=473337"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=473337"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}