CULS is very sad to report the death of Dr Mike Turner, a Past President of the Society, who passed away on 6th January 2017.
During a long and distinguished academic and sporting career Mike’s outstanding ability to encourage others to give and achieve of their best was of great benefit to many people, particularly young people. He made an invaluable contribution to the Department of Land Economy and the Society over a period of some 40 years.
Mike was a graduate of Queens’ College and his BA in 1962 was followed by an MA two years later and a PhD in 1966. During this time he was a Research Assistant with the Department, a University Assistant in Research and an Assistant Lecturer. In the early 1970s he was seconded to the University of Kumasi in Ghana under a Land Economy link arrangement financed by the Overseas Development Administration of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
In the mid 1970s Mike was awarded the Cleary Research Fellowship in Land Economy at Magdalene College, which was funded by Fred Cleary of Haslemere Estates, and enjoyed a second period of secondment – this time to the University of Nigeria. In the late 1970s he was elected Dean and Fellow of Magdalene where he was also appointed as College Lecturer in Valuation Theory and Practice from 1980 until 1997 when he became an Affiliated Lecturer to the Department.
Following his election as Fellow of Peterhouse in 1989, Mike held the appointments of Senior Bursar, Domestic Bursar, Bursar Emeritus and Junior Bursar.
Mike also made an invaluable contribution to National and International Athletics. He captained the England Cross Country Team and was the Manager of the British Track and Field Team whose members won 9 silver and 2 bronze medals at the Seoul Olympics in 1988.
Mike was President of the Society in 1974 and members elected him an Honorary Life Member in 2004 as an expression of their gratitude for his advice and guidance as Honorary Treasurer from 1964 until his retirement in 2002.
A further tribute to Mike can be found via this link: http://www.athleticsweekly.com/featured/lifelong-running-friendship-tribute-mike-turner-cross-country-great-1960s-55456
The Funeral will be held on Tuesday 31st January at St Botolphs Church, Cambridge at 1.45pm with refreshments afterwards at Peterhouse.
