Mike was a very kind and friendly colleague who helped many new members of staff settle in. and had a wise sage-like approach to teaching and learning. He was one of the first people to show me the ropes when I joined the University of Lincoln in 2009, and he really helped me to understand how academia worked. We also shared a love of photography and art. I remember very early on after I had joined, we stopped on a staircase and gazed out at hoards of students exiting an induction briefing on day one of their University adventure, I said to Mike 'Who are all these people?", he turned to me and said 'they pay your mortgage' ! - I never forgot that. I regret not keeping in touch with him after he retired, but I never forgot about him as he left an indelible impression. My condolences to his wife and family.