Sale, who was known as Mick, had a long and successful career in the industry. He died on 4 October, just 13 days before what would have been his 80th birthday.
He completed his apprenticeship as a compositor at Broadwater Press in Welwyn Garden City (pictured below), before finding his forte in sales and administration.
He subsequently went on to work at McCorquodales in Fleet Street, and then founded Hensal Press with business partner Terry Hennessy in the 1970s.
“With customers like British Airways and Midland Bank they had a solid foundation to grow a successful business with the assistance of their production manager Clive Jakes,” his son Murray Sale said in a tribute.
Murray Sale worked alongside him at Hensal Press for more than a decade, and is now sales manager at Hardings Print Solutions in West London.
“Hensal Press grew to a formidable business and through the 1980s and '90s took on more and more customers and staff and created a reputation in the printing world as a good solid business, delivering quality and service. We eventually sold the business back in 2005 allowing Dad to enjoy his retirement and travel the world.”
Industry associates also paid tribute.
Astron founder David Mitchell described him as “a pioneer”.
“Michael Sale was very helpful to us in the early days of Astron. He was a supplier to a client we’d taken on and he’d have been one of many suppliers at the time. We always said those who are good suppliers who would work with us would do okay, and I think he saw that,” he said.
“He was a lovely guy. Clear thinking and open thinking.”
Paul Sherfield, owner of the Missing Horse Consultancy, knew Sale from his print buying days.
He said: “Sorry to hear this news. I dealt with Hensal Press when a print buyer for British Airways. A great team of people and fun to deal with.”
Sale’s passions outside of print included Tottenham Hotspur, golf, and sport in general. He also loved jazz music and watching his eldest son Lawrence play the drums.
In retirement he travelled the world on cruises.
“He was much loved by his two sons and five grandchildren: Ben, Ellie, Sam, Charlie and Annie Sale,” Sale added.
The funeral service will be held on 15 October at 11:00am, and will be viewable online due to Covid-19 restrictions on attendance numbers at present.
“Under normal circumstances we would have loved as many people as possible to join us to celebrate his life,” Sale added.
Details about how to log on are available via Sale’s LinkedIn page.
Donations in Michael Sale’s memory are being made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in support of his grandson Sam who has suffered with Type 1 Diabetes from the age of seven.
