Dr Michael Gilmour, universally known as Mike, led a distinguished professional and academic life, but is most widely remembered in Auckland as a beloved physician, a man of wisdom, understanding and compassion whose opinion in consultation was widely sought over many years.

He was born in Invercargill where his father Robert Gilmour was a director of the family newspaper company, The Southland Times, and had married Sophie Philippa Philips. He was educated at Christ’s College, graduated from the Otago Medical School in 1943 and after a year at Auckland Hospital served as Captain in the NZMC in the Middle East, Italy and Japan. In 1948 he married Christine Keith Farrer.

Mike undertook postgraduate studies in London from 1951 to 1953 and passed the “London Membership”. He returned to Auckland as Medical Tutor to Auckland Hospital and three years later was appointed Part time Visiting Physician and began his practice as consulting physician.

Within Auckland Hospital he filled many important roles over the years, among them, Sub Dean Auckland Branch Faculty of the Otago Medical School, Chairman Postgraduate Medical Committee, Chairman Division of Medicine, and Chairman Council on Appointments.

He was a member of the Senate Medical Committee, University of Auckland to assist in planning the School of Medicine and on its establishment he became a Clinical Reader in Medicine. He was elected to the Council of the University in 1971 and in 1978-79 was Pro Chancellor.

Mike entered the College as a Member in 1950 and was elected Fellow in 1959. He became a member of the New Zealand Committee in 1962 and was a Councillor 1965-71. He served as a New Zealand Censor for twelve years from 1962 and was Senior Censor for New Zealand 1970-74. He was among the first to become an Honorary Lecturer in the University of Singapore as part of the College program to assist in their establishment of a postgraduate medical degree. Representing the College, he became a member of the Medical Council of New Zealand from 1975. He was appointed Chairman in 1981 and served with distinction.

He became Vice President for New Zealand 1974-76 and President of the College 1976-78. He was elected an Honorary Fellow of the American College of Physicians in 1977 and in 1983 the University of Auckland awarded him Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa).

He was the third Fellow from New Zealand to be elected President. His term was notable for the establishment of Continuing Education in the College. This was seen as a logical sequel to the adoption of the Part 1 FRACP Examination followed by approval and accreditation of advanced training leading to admission to the College as a Fellow, rather than, as Mike said “simply exercising with concerned detachment, the ritual of examination.” The idea that the College should offer opportunity and encouragement to Fellows to adopt a habit of continuing education had been under discussion since 1971 and through a grant from the Kellogg Foundation, the Continuing Education Unit was established with the appointment of John Hunter as Foundation Director. Mike always considered that persuading John Hunter to accept this post was the most important contribution of his Presidency.

For some time the Council had had anxious considerations about the College properties at 145 and 147 Macquarie St. This problem now became acute. An economic downturn, a “green ban” on 145 imposed by the Builders’ Labourers Federation and the absence of any interest in purchase of the properties left the Council with no realistic course but to restore the dilapidated 145 to meet safety standards appropriate to administrative offices. The cost, some $300,000, consumed much of the accumulated reserves of the College in spite of an appeal to Fellows.

The first Fellows from the training program were emerging and there was criticism and complaint about the enormous secretarial load generated by accreditation and the greatly increased workload faced by the Board of Censors. The issues were contentious and here Mike showed his people skills. Debate was tense and at times acrimonious but he was always able to achieve consensus, perhaps because, coming from New Zealand, he stood on neutral ground and could take an objective view of the Australian medical scene.

His retirement was marred by progressive ill health and by the death of his wife Chrissy and his daughter Philippa. These misfortunes he bore with his characteristic fortitude and good humour. He was survived by his son Robert, himself a medical graduate.