My father, Michael Goodfellow, who has died aged 83, was a world authority on Actinobacteria, an necessary group of microbes valued for his or her antibiotic-producing capability.
A worldwide collaborator, Mike was granted quite a few worldwide awards for his vital contributions on the usage of Actinobacteria in biotechnology, particularly within the discovery of latest medicine. He was additionally recognised with the naming of the bacterial genus Goodfellowiella.
He chaired nationwide and worldwide organisations, together with the belief that oversees the publication of Bergey’s Handbook, a global useful resource on the classification and identification of micro organism, and was a founding member of Bergey’s Worldwide Society for Microbial Systematics.
Mike started his educational profession as a postdoctoral fellow at Penn State College within the US (1966-67), then fulfilled the same function on the College of Leicester (1967-1969). In 1969 he joined the College of Newcastle as a lecturer in microbiology, and remained there till his loss of life, promoted to senior lecturer, reader, after which professor in microbial systematics, and in addition heading the varsity of biology from 2005 till 2008.
Born in Ecclefechan, Dumfries and Galloway, to Mary (nee Wilson), a shirt machinist, and Edwin Goodfellow, a door-to-door salesman, Mike had a troublesome childhood after his mom died when he was three. He grew up in Carlisle, attending Carlisle grammar college earlier than finding out botany on the College of Liverpool, the place he additionally accomplished a PhD in microbiology.
After becoming a member of Penn State College straight after commencement, he returned to Liverpool for a brief spell as a trainer on the Prince Rupert secondary fashionable ladies college earlier than becoming a member of Leicester College.
In 1983 he married Punita Tanna and so they had two youngsters, my sister Maya and me. Regardless of his personal remoted upbringing, Mike crammed ours with pleasure, and he was endlessly caring, wryly humorous and at all times supportive.
A socialist, internationalist and a deeply political thinker, he was instrumental in establishing the Socialist Surroundings and Sources Affiliation and was a Labour get together member from the age of 18 till he resigned his membership a couple of days earlier than he died, in protest of the get together’s course of journey.
He was a voracious reader, and even the briefest dialog with him would spotlight that there have been few topics he didn’t know one thing about. However he wore his information calmly and was at all times curious in regards to the views of others.
Staunchly opposed to non-public faculties, he served as chair of governors at Gosforth highschool for practically 40 years and in his spare time adopted the fortunes of Liverpool FC, having supported them since his college days.
Mike is survived by Punita, Maya and me.
