Michael Edgar Arnold

Michael attended medical school in Dublin during the second world war. In 1946, together with his wife Margaret (née Blair), Michael bought a general practice in Wembley. For several years they shared the practice before Margaret diversified. Michael was a strong advocate of the newly created NHS and served on many BMA committees. He was a founder member of the Royal College of General Practitioners and an early supporter of trainee general practitioners and medical student electives in general practice. He was the driving force behind one of London's first comprehensive health centres at Chalkhill, Wembley Park. For some years Michael ran the emergency services for major events at Wembley stadium. When Margaret became ill they moved to Sussex for a quieter life; however, within months, Michael was again fully active as a general practitioner in the Westbourne area until his well earned retirement aged 71.

Michael travelled frequently and had a wide circle of friends on several continents. As a young general practitioner he did tours as a ship's doctor. He was a lifelong member of the Chelsea Arts Club. In later life he started to write and paint watercolours. He organised walking tours on the Sussex Downs and maintained his keen interest in medical politics. His wife, Margaret, died in 1982. Michael leaves two children—Andrew, a medical oncologist, and Marilyn, a consultant haematologist—and six grandchildren.