A LOCAL business man is seeking to assure friends that he is still very much alive following the publication of a death notice for a man with the same name.
The first Mike Harding knew of the coincidence was when he began to receive cards of condolence and messages on his telephone answering machine from grieving friends.
ÒIt was spooky - like a rehearsal for the real thing,Ó said the Alton man who will be known to many as the former proprietor of Rainbow Carpets in Market Street.
It seems people had read the announcement in the personal column of last weekÕs Alton Herald and had assumed the man in question was AltonÕs Michael Harding since, in common with the late Mr Harding, both his wife and son have the same names.
The local man had not wanted to say anything, out of respect for the family of the deceased, but has been so overwhelmed by messages of condolence that he has felt compelled to let people know that he is still alive.
The crunch came when he attended a function at the Alton House Hotel.
As he entered friends thought they had seen a ghost and some burst into tears.
ÒThey have all been so kind. I canÕt leave them believing that I am dead,Ó said Mr Harding who by his own admission has been Òquite spookedÓ by the whole ordeal.
He told the Herald: ÒIt was really odd seeing the announcement in print and thinking - this will be what it looks like when your time comes.Ó