Michael D. Brunton (CONT’D FROM PAGE 1 )
Prior to concluding his Short Service Commission in the Army, Michael was introduced to Fiona Binsted by his sister Chrissie. Their romance was instant, with Michael proposing to Fiona on her 18th birthday. They were mar- ried a year later at Binsted church in September 1970. To repay the ‘favor’, Chrissie went on to meet Tony Heslop, a brother Officer of Michael’s and subsequently marrying! And the romance continued, with Fiona’s older sister, Sara, being introduced to another of Michael’s best friends in the Army, Colin Neville and they went on to marry as well. Within three years, Michael and Fiona welcomed their first son, Daniel, in 1973, followed in 1977 by Benjamin. Mi- chael and Fiona were married for 50 years, celebrating their Golden Anniversary in September 2020, but due to COVID lock-down, were unable to celebrate in a style be- fitting them both.
Publishing Career Having left the Army in 1971, Michael was encouraged to join Fiona’s family publishing business, Binsted Publi- Major David and Margaret Brunton, Michael and Fiona, Muriel and Major Ken Binsted on September 26, 1970.
cations. He worked under Major Ken Binsted, learning the art of producing trade magazines in the wine and beverage industry, then cut- ting his teeth in the packaging industry by sell- ing advertising in International Paper Board Industry . In 1977, Michael asked Major Binsted if he could launch a new title to cover the car- ton business, which they went on to call Fold- ing Carton Industry . Michael worked success- fully alongside Fiona’s brother Ed and his wife Jan for many years, before setting up Brunton Publications in 1988.
Michael always loved visiting box plants and carton factories, talking to owners and managers and understanding how the indus- try ticked. He was never satisfied until he had asked every last question he could possibly think of. He was also keen to learn about new developments and the advent of flexo printing on corrugated board gave him the chance to tour the world, talking at conferences for FEF- CO, TAPPI and AICC. Although he had never printed one single box in his life, audiences listened and took note! He was an eloquent Ed Binsted, left, with Dan and Mike Brunton, not long before the first UK lockdown in early 2020.
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March 15, 2021
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