Michael Lee-Jones

Former general practitioner Wallingford, Oxfordshire (b London 1937; q Middlesex Hospital, London, 1960; MRCP 1966, FRCGP 1983), died from cancer of the bronchus on 9 November 2002.

After training to become a general physician Mike decided that he would be more suited to general practice and joined a well established practice in Wallingford in 1971. He epitomised all that is best in the personal care that he gave to his patients, quickly gaining their lasting respect and that of his professional colleagues. He had a special interest in obstetrics, taking an active part in deliveries at home or in the GP maternity ward of the local community hospital whenever appropriate. It was probably his enthusiasm that helped to keep the ward open when small maternity units were under threat of closure and it continues to flourish today. He assisted his wife in running classes for the National Childbirth Trust for many years.

When he joined the practice, the Wallingford Community Hospital was being redeveloped, and he was one of a small team that initiated new operational policies, which were later adopted for all community hospitals in Oxfordshire. His commitment to high standards in practice and audit led to the encouragement of several changes in the workings of his practice and from 1992 to involvement in the hospital accreditation programme. This assesses and helps to raise standards in small hospitals. After retirement from general practice in 1998 he was able to devote more time to this and became its clinical director for three years. He gave general practitioner care to patients in Fairmile Hospital and was medical officer to the young offenders’ institution at Huntercombe. He served as a manager of the Mental Health Act for the Oxfordshire Mental Health NHS Trust 1997-2002 and as a membership examiner for the Royal College of General Practitioners 1979-87.

Mike was very active in many activities in his community including instructing and examining for the St John Ambulance, sitting on his local church PCC, and the Wallingford Town Charities. He was a co-founder of the Wallingford Toy Library for disabled children and made two trips to Lourdes as medical officer and helper in the local "jumbulance."

Music and the theatre were among Mike’s many interests, which included sailing, with a holiday taken most years as a member of a crew sailing in the English Channel. An enthusiastic walker, he spent many happy hours with friends and family enjoying the countryside and good conversation or quiet companionship.

He is sorely missed by family and his many friends. His happy marriage to Belinda lasted nearly 40 years. She survives him, as do his three children. [Peter Kay, Trevor Wintle]