Professor Sir Michael Peckham (1935–2021)

It is with great sadness that St Catharine’s College learnt that Professor Sir Michael Peckham, alumnus and Honorary Fellow of the College, died on 13 August 2021. The College flag will be flown at half-mast in his memory on 25 August 2021.

Sir Michael was admitted to St Catharine’s to read Natural Sciences as an undergraduate in 1953. He went on to play a major role in advancing cancer care through medical research and education, and by championing a multi-disciplinary approach to cancer medicine. He also distinguished himself as an artist, and his paintings were exhibited from 1962 onwards. 

Professor Sir Mark Welland, Master of St Catharine's, commented, "It is a source of great pride that St Catharine’s played such an important part in Sir Michael’s life, with his early experiences as an undergraduate shaping his outlook and career. Having understood that mortality and continuity concern both physicians and artists, it is poignant that he created an enduring legacy spanning medicine and art that will benefit future generations. On behalf of the College community, I want to express my deepest sympathies to Sir Michael’s wife, Catherine, and their family.”

Read the obituary published by Cancer World.