RIP Mike Hood (Captain Smurf) 17/06/1960

RIP Mike Hood (Captain Smurf) 17/06/1960 – 12/02/2026

Despite my many years as a writer, I struggle to find the words to express the profound feelings of sadness and despondency that overwhelmed Mandy and I on hearing of the sudden death of our friend Mike Hood (ake Captain Smurf) on the 12^th of February 2026.

We were on holiday in Egypt when we received a call from our friend Pete Walker of East Yorkshire MAG informing us of Mike’s 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 social media.

Later, as the sun went down over the Red Sea, we raised our mocktails to him as ‘Hurry On Sundown’ by his beloved Hawkwind played over the sound of the gently lapping waves.

Mike was ubiquitously known and loved by so many people on the UK motorcycle rally scene as “Captain Smurf” though he was simply referred to by Mandy and I as “The Cap’n”,

Mike 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 Cap’n 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 capture 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 Cap’n had seen a great deal more of the world than most of us ever will. Whether sailing huge freight ships through the Suez Canal to skippering somewhat smaller, though no less impressive scientific survey ships through some of the most unpredictable and dangerous seas on the planet, he had witnessed at first-hand some of the ocean’s 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 Cap’n 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 Cap’n about ten years ago and they immediately became firm friends, instantly revelling in their reciprocal ‘joie de vivre’ every time they met. On their first meeting Mandy had asked why, when she saw so many photos taken by The Cap’n she never saw any photos of The Cap’n 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 Cap’n. I know many of them, will be deeply saddened to hear of his untimely death at the age of 65.

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 Cap’n 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.

Over the years, the Cap’n and I have ‘put the world to rights’ on many occasions, the subjects we have analysed, dissected, and as often as not, vehemently agreed upon, have been eclectic, inciteful, surreal, sublime, ridiculous, satirical and cynical, and on occasion, all of these elements simultaneously!

Our joyously unfettered discussions would easily encompass everything from the reprehensible nature of professional politicians to the blissful nature of distant music carried on a sea breeze, while passing through the beauty of wildlife and the absurdity of flat-earthers along the way!

The thought of never seeing The Cap’n again is simply too upsetting to contemplate at present, and I am really struggling with the realisation that our wonderful conversations have now come to an end.

I don’t doubt that his absence will be sorely felt by many at the 2026 events.

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 absence of his ever-ready smile and his radiant golden soul.

The Cap’n had been battling with severe chest problems since early 2025. His growing frustration with how this interfered with his attendance at events had been evident in our most recent conversations as he voiced his exasperation with what he referred to as, “This pestilential chest infection!”

I understand from his sisters that the official cause of his death was a heart attack brought on by ischemic heart disease.

The Cap’n is survived by his mother, two sisters and a number of nieces and nephews who were sources of great joy to him. Our hearts and our condolences go out to each and every one of them for their loss.

RIP Cap’n, you will always hold a place of love and honour in our hearts.

Rick Hulse
NABD Chairman