Major Sir Michael John Parker, (21 September 1941 – 28 November 2022) was a British businessman who was a leading producer of large-scale

military tattoo A military tattoo is a performance of music or display of armed forces in general. The term comes from the early 17th-century Dutch phrase ''doe den tap toe'' ("turn off the tap"), a signal sounded by drummers or trumpeters to instruct innkeeper ...

s and large-scale events in the United Kingdom and abroad.

Life and career

Parker was born on 21 September 1941. He was educated at

Dulwich Prep London Dulwich Prep London (DPL), formerly known as Dulwich College Preparatory School, is an independent preparatory school in Dulwich, south London, England for boys aged 3–13 years. The current Head Master is Louise Davidson. In 1938 headmaster ...

and

Hereford Cathedral School Hereford Cathedral School is an independent, co-educational day and boarding school for pupils of ages 3 to 18 years, from Nursery to Sixth Form. Its headmaster is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. The school's premi ...

, Parker went to

Royal Military Academy Sandhurst The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS or RMA Sandhurst), commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is one of several military academies of the United Kingdom and is the British Army's initial officer training centre. It is located in the town of ...

in 1959 and was commissioned into The Queen's Own Hussars. After a successful career in the Army he left in 1971, and has since been responsible for over 300 official national, international and royal occasions. Parker was producer of the Royal Tournament for 26 years, from 1974 to 1999. He also produced the

Edinburgh Military Tattoo The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is an annual series of military tattoos performed by British Armed Forces, Commonwealth and international military bands, and artistic performance teams on the Esplanade of Edinburgh Castle in the capital of S ...

, from 1992 to 1994, as well as the Berlin Tattoo and Wembley Military Musical Pageant. In 2000 Parker produced the Royal Military Millennium Tattoo 2000 on Horse Guards Parade. Parker previously worked on the Jubilee celebrations for HM The Queen in 1977, which included a nationwide chain of beacons throughout the country, the first being lit by The Queen at Windsor. In 2002 Parker produced the Golden Jubilee Weekend Festival at Buckingham Palace and in The Mall. Parker produced Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother's 80th, 90th and 100th Birthday Celebrations. Parker was made a Knight Commander of Royal Victorian Order on 3 August 2000 for his work as a producer for The Queen Mother Centenary Tribute. Parker also produced 'The Great Event' in celebration of The Queen's 40th Anniversary in 1992, and 'The Royal Fireworks' on the eve of the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer. In 1995, Parker produced the 50th Anniversary of VE Day in Hyde Park and Buckingham Palace and a VJ 50th Commemoration on Horse Guards and Buckingham Palace. Internationally Parker has produced a variety of large-scale events, including celebrations in Jordan for King Hussein and the Royal wedding of King Abdullah II. He has produced events in Europe, USA, China, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia and Oman. Parker was also the author of ''It’s All Going Terribly Wrong: The Accidental Showman'', published by Bene Factum Publishing Ltd., London, published on 5 November 2012. Parker was also a successful antique dealer.

Personal life and death

Parker married Emma (née Gilroy) in 2005 and had a stepson, Oliver, who works in the theatre. Parker died on 28 November 2022, at the age of 81.

References

External links

* Sir Michael Parker, Biography * Sir Michael Parker, Biography {{DEFAULTSORT:Parker, Michael 1941 births 2022 deaths English businesspeople Queen's Own Hussars officers

Life and career

Personal life and death

See also

References

External links