The marketing world and the congregation of Bolton Abbey are mourning the loss of Michael 'Mike' Vineall, a former Guinness board member and dedicated family man, who has died at the age of 87.
A Distinguished Career in Brand Marketing
Mike Vineall joined the iconic drinks company Guinness in 1968, taking on the pivotal role of brand manager for bottled Guinness, then the nation's top-selling brand. His twenty-year tenure saw him rise to the board of Guinness Superlatives, the publisher of the famous Guinness Book of Records, and he also led new product development. In 1983, he embarked on a successful freelance consultancy career, initially within the drinks sector before expanding his expertise into education and agrifood.
Born in Ilford, east London, Mike was the second son of George, an industrial chemist, and Helen Vineall. The family moved to Alwoodley in Leeds when he was five, and he always considered himself a Yorkshireman. After national service, he took up a Leeds City scholarship at New College, Oxford, in 1958, where he studied psychology, philosophy and physiology. His degree in psychology proved the perfect foundation for his future in marketing, which began at a research agency after his 1961 graduation.
Passions Beyond the Boardroom
Outside of his professional life, Mike Vineall was a man of diverse and deep interests. He was a lifelong Leeds United FC supporter and a season ticket-holder at Elland Road. His love for cricket and motorsports was matched by a lifelong passion for jazz, having played the double bass in bands during his Oxford days. In 1962, he married Mary Watters, whom he met while working on her father's farm. Together they enjoyed dogs, country walks, and entertaining, and shared a love of the theatre.
The couple lived in Buckinghamshire for many years, first in Amersham and then Chesham Bois, before returning to his beloved Yorkshire in 1989 to settle in Grassington.
Faith, Family, and Firm Beliefs
Mike's Anglican faith was a central but private part of his life. He served for 25 years on the parochial church council of St Mary's in Amersham, including two stints as churchwarden and two decades on the deanery synod. Later, at Bolton Abbey, he was an active congregant, regularly serving as a chalicist. A committed Guardian reader and Labour party supporter, he was known for his genuine interest in others, an ability to converse with anyone, and a forthright but tolerant defence of his firmly held beliefs.
Mike Vineall is survived by his wife Mary, his children Anne and David, six grandchildren, and his brother Tony.
