Ian Rennie writes:
It is with immense sadness that I announce the sudden and unexpected death of my dear friend and colleague, Michael Eric Nelson, at the age of 69.
Mike was born in Hyde, Greater Manchester. Although offered a place at Cambridge University, he chose instead to study medicine at Liverpool University, qualifying in 1980. After house officer posts in Warrington, he decided to specialise in ophthalmology, joining the staff at St Paul’s Eye Hospital in Liverpool where he met Brenda, his future wife. He then became a registrar at West Norwich Hospital.
In 1990 Mike was appointed as a consultant ophthalmologist in Sheffield, a position he held until his retirement in 2015. He was a gifted surgeon specialising in anterior segment surgery. He was also an outstanding teacher with an ability to impart his knowledge with both humour and clarity. Over the years, Mike developed a keen interest in medical education holding a number of positions at both local and national levels. These included Undergraduate Dean at Sheffield Medical School, Director of Undergraduate Medical Education at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, and Educational Adviser to the Royal College of Ophthalmologists. In the latter post he was instrumental in the redesign of all parts of the college’s fellowship examinations.
Music was always one of the mainstays of Mike’s life, whether listening or playing. This began as a boy playing in Ashton Brass Band with his father. The instruments he could play are too numerous to mention and in recent years he achieved a lifelong ambition by playing saxophone in a band, The Altonators, at numerous venues.
Mike had an insatiable thirst for knowledge and in his “spare” time he obtained a BSc (Hons) First-Class in Mathematics, an MA in Education and a BA (Hons) First-Class in English Language and Linguistics.
Latterly, Mike volunteered at the Hope English School and Sheffield Association for the Voluntary Teaching of English. Both charities help asylum seekers and refugees learn English.
Above all else, Mike was a family man, sharing with them his infectious enthusiasm for life. He is survived by his wife of almost 40 years, Brenda, their three children Paul, Lucy and Jonathan, and their six grandchildren.
The exceptional life of an exceptional man.