Without Michael, who’s the curator of the Bayeux Tapestry Exhibition, it most likely wouldn’t have made it to England.
The 53 year old, who went to Smithdon High in Hunstanton, has spent almost 20 years trying to get the 11th century artwork on British soil.
Finally, this July, it made it. “It was pretty special,” he tells me, “It was amazing really, I was a little bit disappointed that I wasn’t able to go on the train with the tapestry across the Channel.
“For me the arrival in England was the big thing, when I heard that, I was thinking gosh it’s finally happened - because I have invested a lot of effort into this.”
“The arrival at the British Museum, well, essentially all I saw was a lorry, then the crate containing the tapestry was taken off.
“The following week it was taken out of the crate, and then put on the display table, which was a mammoth operation really and was an amazing thing to see.
“That took about 18 hours, with about a hundred people, from Britain and France, working together to take it out.”
Director of the British Museum Nicholas Cullinan (left) with Michael and the lorry in the background
“Once the technical operation finished, and it was put in its case, I said do you want me to talk through the tapestry story, so for all of the people who had been there helping all through the night, I talked them through it.
“And then I kind of realised that was the first time someone had done that in 950 years in this country.”
Since its arrival, Michael, who volunteered at Lynn Museum in his 20's, has even shown the King one of the world's most famous pieces of medieval art.
The King, Queen and President Macron being shown the tapestry by Michael
“It was a bit surreal looking back. But when you’re in the moment, and you’re talking about the tapestry - you just kind of forget that.
“Because I’m from Norfolk, nearly every Christmas you’d go and see the Royal family at Sandringham - so it is kind of bizarre.”
Getting the tapestry here is pretty remarkable considering Britain first asked for its loan in 1953, with repeated attempts over the decades.
After years (and years) of discussions and being a member of the Bayeux Tapestry Scientific Committee since 2013, Michael finally saw a real chance when its permanent home in France closed for major renovations.
And after many diplomatic talks, last year President Macron championed the loan.
The 68 metre long tapestry, which depicts events leading up to the Norman conquest of England and the Battle of Hastings in 1066
Michael, who's been obsessed by the tapestry for more than 30 years, first went to France to see it with his dad, Rob.
"He was studying at university at the time," Rob tells me, "And I wanted to take him because he was obsessed by the tapestry but he’d never actually seen it.
“So I said we’ll go, and we went over to France for a few days. And he spent hours and hours looking at it, I mean I’d had enough after about ten minutes, but he was ever so obsessed by every little part."
Michael at school
Rob gets emotional when I ask about his son's achievements. "I'm just proud, very proud, to achieve all this - it’s a big thing. He’d got those passions, in history and in art, it’s just finding your niche in life really."
With the first lot of tickets quickly selling out, I ask if he's managed to see the tapestry. “No not yet, I’m going to apply like everyone else. But I definitely want to go."
Rob with one of Michael's books
The popularity of the exhibition hasn't surprised Michael, “I’m a bit obsessed about it, so I just imagined people would be obsessed as I am!
"The first a hundred thousand tickets sold out in less than 24 hours, it was incredible, there’s been nothing like that in terms of a museum type event. It’s what you expect from pop concerts!”
We've got until next July to see the nearly 1,000-year-old embroidered masterpiece on English soil, and after chatting to Michael I'm even more excited about getting the chance.
The next lot of tickets go on sale on October 21st.
