Michael

[Christopher]

I am grateful, Mr. Birkin, to you insights into Michael.  What an extraordinary person he must have been.  I am always struck by people who others say everyone who knew them were touched by them.  This is especially true with people who have sensitivity, which appears to have been the case with Michael. 

We will never know what happened in the last moments of his life.  Even the coroner's report involved men who were guessing on what happened.  Suicide can be a very impulsive act.   Under duress or a compromised state of mind, people can do very sad things. 

I recently read an article in which Nico's daughter, Laura, was interviewed in December, 2001.  She said even though her father tended to change his mind on Michael's death, he came to believe Michael was struggling with a possible homosexual phase and thought he probably committed suicide.  She said the idea of Michael having to tell JMB would have been mortifying to him because of the times they lived.

I am interested in knowing why so many of Michael's friends, family, and even Mr. Barrie himself suspected he might have killed himself despite the official coroner's report?  During this time, had he shown signs of being depressed?  Was he acting anxious or sad?  The possibility of suicide to come to so many people's minds makes me think many saw him as depressed or sad - but maybe I am wrong? 

I would appreciate any insights you would have. 

[Taylor]

I agree Michael had/has a soul that reached out to many.  I recently went through hypnosis for Past Life Regression and MLD was very much a part of that session.  I was so touched that I sought ouit his grave in London and spent an hour there in the rain.  As I walked back to the Underground, I felt a giant weight had been lifted from my shoulders.  I too feel his death was an accident. 

[andrew]

For some reason Nico said he peferred to think it was suicide = it was ihael's choice, not blind fate. Having lost my son Anno in a car crash (he was asleep in the back = meaingless fate) I couldn't disagree more,  but perhaps suicide seemed more tolerable to them? I'm 80% sure Michael's death was an accident....

[yrrab]

I do not think Michaels death was suicide, I think that it was either as a result of cramp, cold or undertow. As to his fear of telling J.M.Barrie that he was Homosexual, I'm inclined to dismiss that too. I think Barrie already knew. It's worth noting that the only college friend that J.M. really liked was Rupert Buxton and I think this was because he was aware of the relationship between the two boys and in a way he was happy with it because he would not loose Michael in the same way that he would have lost him to a conventional marriage.By all accounts Michael was a sensitive boy which may or may not tell us something, but either way, you don't bring up children whether or not they are yours by birth or adoption, without having an inkling as to their possible orientation, not when you love them as Barrie did, and Michael was his favourite don't forget.One final point worth remembering was Oxford. The universities of Oxford and Cambridge had a strong subset of 'Gay's both then and now and in such company it would be possible for a student to 'come out' unofficially and be happy. In short, the only problem I have with Michaels Homosexuality is the continued speculation. I think he was gay,knew it, and was happy with it, as indeed was Barrie.

[Nicholas]

Could I add two anecdotes and a conclusion?

1)  Some years ago a resident of Oxford (that is not a student) who lived near a stretch of water in the city told me that quite often local people would remark laconically: "They pulled another one out today" meaning another drowned student had been dragged out of the river.  In fact death by drowning seems to be quite an occupational risk for undergraduates.  But why had they drowned?  Was it suicide?  Were they drunk?  Had a prank gone wrong?  Up and down the UK there must be families who wonder why their brilliant son or daughter was taken from them in such a pointless way.

2)  A porter at London University (I speak as an alumnus) once assured me that in the staff's opinion the students were the "biggest bunch of effing idiots they had ever set eyes on".  A fortiori, what is true of London is surely true of Oxford.

Elsewhere on this website I have reconstructed what happened at Sandford Pool and I concluded that everything could be explained as an accident - that it was a meaningless event.  There seems to me to be little point in adding in for example psychological factors and intentions which can never be known about now.  Michael may have been homosexual, but we do not know that.  He may have found it difficult to talk to JMB, but as Nico pointed out many young people have difficulty talking to their parents about sex.  We are confronted here by the absurdity of life and the realisation that there does not have to be a reason for anything, that things only happen in such and such a way because that is the way they happen to happen.

As for the porter's remark,  I will just say that there are several pubs by the tow path from Oxford and who is to say the boys did not go in  for a quick one?  Dutch courage would explain Michael's folly in jumping in and trying to compete with Rupert.

Just a reminder: the coroner's papers from the inquest should be opened in 2021 and may give more insight into what happended.

[mikey2573]

If I remember correctly weren't Michael and his friend pulled from the water clutching each other?  This would indicate death by drowning to me.  It would appear that Michael was drowning and his friend went in to rescue him.  As a former lifeguard myself, we are trained to NEVER approach a drowning victim from the front as they will always try to cling to you in an effort to keep their head above water.  You always swim around to the back of the victim and take them from behind.  This may have been something that was less known at the time, and it would appear that Michael's mate tried to help him by approaching him from the front.  Michael, in a blind panic, grasped onto his friend and they both went under. 

[Nicholas]

According to the press reports and the inquest the bodies came out of the water seperately, one being removed about an hour before the other. The description was that the men appeared to be clasped, so there must remain a doubt whether they were in fact cllinging to each other. 

There was also a story that the bodies were roped together.  When pulling bodies from the water a kind of lasso is used to trawl through until it loops around something, which is then pulled out.  Someone on the bank must have seen this procedure and jumped to the conclusion that the boys were tied together when they drowned.  So many stories and theories based on bad evidence!  My decision is that until someone can reasonably demonstrate intent to commit suicide I will believe that Rupert and Michael died in an accident. 

I couldn't care less whether they were homosexual [ghastly word] or not.  In fact, given that neither boy was emotionally mature, I consider the discussion quite misplaced as it involves casting a 21st century mindset (and obsession) back 100 years and then judging people who are unable to reply.