Michael Wood was probably one of the most highly respected physicians of his time on the Wirral both by colleagues and patients.
He had wanted an appointment in the London area and came to the Wirral as second best. He did not regret his luck, and London’ s loss was the Wirral’s gain.
Born in Birmingham, the son of an engineer, he was educated at Marlborough College, where he played rugby and hockey. He proceeded to Cambridge and then to St Mary’s, where he qualified. His house officer appointment was at hospital in Basingstoke. The second world war interrupted, and he served in the Royal Air Force as a medical officer at the headquarters of the second tactical air force. He then became a medical registrar at St Mary’s and the West Middlesex Hospital. He was appointed consultant physician to Clatterbridge Hospital, Wirral, in 1952. This hospital had emerged from the war as a military hospital. Michael made his mark with his colleagues by giving a comprehensive service to general practitioners, and his practice also developed an active private practice as a result.
Michael was a quietly spoken man, polite and approachable. He had a dry sense of humour but a caustic wit and incisive mind which made it difficult to oppose him. However, he was ever a reasonable man. His medical knowledge was extensive and his diagnostic acumen great. I recall as a young registrar phoning him late at night about a patient who had periodic bouts of unconsciousness and seemed to be deteriorating rapidly. A tired voice on the other end of the phone said, “She has a cyst of the third ventricle”—not entirely correct as it was in the foramen of Munro. There are many such episodes one could recall, and as such his stock as a physician was very high. Most of his colleagues would seek his opinion over their own problems and those of their relatives. This confidence in a colleague is probably the greatest test of clinical ability there is. He was always ready to give a sympathetic ear to any colleague who consulted him. This, however, applied not only to medicine but to life in general, and he willingly gave advice on all problems and took an interest in the vicissitudes of the lives of his friends. Of course this extended to his juniors as he freely progressed their careers even to extremes if he felt it a worthy cause. He expected loyalty but in return gave back more than he received.
He was chairman of the medical board and elected member of the hospital management. board but resigned later on a matter of principle. He was a great loss because his counsel was always cogent and his clarity of thought could influence many a committee. He worked for the college as a PLAB examiner for some years and examined in Iraq, which he enjoyed immensely, which is more than his wife did. He admired Iraq, its people, and its antiquities greatly.
The loss of his wife, Molly, affected him greatly. They had two daughters and three grandchildren. Later he married Joanna. As a young man he played hockey and captained Magdalene College. In later life he took up fishing and spent much time on the Scottish rivers Dee and Spey. He wrote articles in the fishing press under the pen name of Mark Wellesley. Following retirement he became a gardener and recruited his wife, Joanna, in opening his garden for charity to the public. This was a popular event locally.
Michael will be missed by his friends and colleagues as a stalwart of Wirral medicine. He had great qualities inspiring good medical practice and many aspiring physicians have benefited from his example. He deserved the greatest and probably finest accolade of all, the true respect of his colleagues.
Former consultant physician Clatterbridge Hospital, Wirral, Merseyside (b 1915; q Cambridge/St Mary’s Hospital 1940; MD, FRCP), died from urinary tract infection, septicaemia, and Clostridium difficile on 12 May 2007.