Those who knew Michael Davies well will remember his firm view on the purpose of the Journal and therefore what follows must be an appreciation rather than an obituary; Mike strongly disapproved of the latter.

There is, however, ample purpose in writing about the man, for the personality was father to the successful scientist. Michael Davies was a world authority in the field of cardiac pathology, and one of the leading medical scientists of his generation. Working in the Pathology Department at St George’s Hospital he was awarded the first British Heart Foundation Chair of Cardiovascular Pathology in 1981. He had an extensive practice providing second opinions in his specialised field and was a superb undergraduate teacher. A keen photographer, …