MIKE WAKELAM

The Babraham Institute has announced the sad news of the death of Professor Michael Wakelam who died suddenly from a suspected COVID-19 infection at the beginning of April. Before taking up the post of Director at the Babraham Institute in Cambridge in 2007, Michael had been Professor of Molecular Pharmacology at the Institute for Cancer Studies at the University of Birmingham. When he took on Directorship of the Institute, the Wakelam family continued to live in Moseley and have been members of the Moseley Society for many years. Not only was Michael a passionate scientist, he was also an enthusiastic member of our community. He helped establish Moseley Forum in 1998 and became its first Treasurer. The archive photograph shows a vote being taken at the second public meeting in St Columba Church Hall. That is Mike in the front row, turning to ensure that all the effort we put into leafleting the whole of Moseley had paid off and we had secured a majority vote in favour of setting up the Forum. Richard Lutz paid a moving tribute to Michael on thebirminghampress.com: “I can't possibly describe the complicated work he did. I'm a layman but it seemed so critical in the world of medicine. It had to do, among other things, with cell signalling and how that affects the body, especially in ageing and the immune system. He was sincerely dedicated to medical research: ‘I love my work, I truly do’.” Richard also mentioned Michael's dedication to his wife and two sons, and his enthusiasm for life: “Whether talking about his family or rugby or rock and roll or his work in community development, he bubbled. He fizzed.” Michael was someone who led from the front. Not only is this a terrible loss for his family and for science, but it is a tragedy for our community too. Michael Wakelam 1955-2020 - Fiona Adams