Mike was born Michael Gillam in Dudley on April 20, 1934. When he was aged six, the family moved to Shirley, a suburb of Birmingham.

After leaving school he spent three years in the RAF, following which, he qualified as a quantity surveyor in the construction industry. Later he joined a well known Birmingham road surfacing company of which he subsequently went on to become a director.

His interest in magic grew quickly and he soon found himself working a cabaret act.

It is interesting how his stage name came about. One night he was doing his act that included the Miser’s Dream using a champagne bucket. The emcee was drunk, and had difficulty in remembering Mike’s name. Coming over to him he said, “What’s your name again?” Mike said, “Just say Mike,” but staring at him from the champagne bucket was the name Gancia, the name of a famous sparkling wine, so he told the emcee to announce him as “Mike Gancia,” a name he has used ever since.

He attended his first IBM convention at Hastings in 1960 where he was not only to see his hero Al Koran lecture and perform but also to meet him in person. At this convention, he also took part in training for a soccer match between the British Ring and the local prison inmates that was to take place at a later date. The magicians won, although the team ended up battered and bruised. Following this incident the Ring abandoned such diversions and stuck to magic.

After this Mike became a regular attendee of the IBM convention, and in 1977 took over the organization of the close-up events, something he has continued to do to the present day. He has also emceed a number of shows including the Gala Show at Yarmouth in 1981. He was often invited by Peter Warlock to take part in his classics/historical shows, which he presented each Friday afternoon of the convention over a period of 25 years. Peter would advise Mike of the trick he wanted performing, and Mike would then have to learn and present it. A few years back he became a member of the British Ring management committee, and on September 16 at the close of the convention in Scarborough was installed as President for the year 2001-2002. Due to the untimely death of the President-Elect, he also remained in office for 2002 – 2003.

Mike joined The Magic Circle, where he is now a Member of the Inner Magic Circle with Gold Star, and the British Magical Society of which he was to become its president, and to be one of only four people to be awarded the Gold Medal of the Society for excellence in performing.

He finally got round to joining the Wolverhampton Circle of Magicians in 1995.
He is an avid collector of videos, as well as books and magazines, which he reads from cover to cover. Therefore his knowledge of magic is extensive, and he can talk for many hours on the subject without any duplication. He loves travel, particularly if it has to do with magic, and regularly attends conventions in the States.

He finally got round to joining the Wolverhampton Circle of Magicians in 1995.

He is an avid collector of videos, as well as books and magazines, which he reads from cover to cover. This has provided him with a very extensive knowledge of magic and he can talk for many hours on the subject.

He these days loves to travel, particularly if it has to do with magic, and regularly attends conventions in the United States.