Nick Read
'I have exceptionally good and vivid memories of Nick Read. For me highlights were his keynote address at IMC7, Oslo 2002. His amazing videos and staining images of fungi were ahead of their time.
Before then and since then he always contributed to the BMS activities at most of the meetings and subsequently when he moved to Manchester from Edinburgh.
I also have fond memories of the BMS meeting in Dundee, after the whiskey tasting with the late Dr Geoff Robson and Prof Geoff Gadd playing guitar and us all singing some great old numbers together into the early hrs…...
At the Cardiff meeting when we introduced the forum for students with a panel of experts from University and Industry, Nick was able to convey in a humorous and interesting way the stages of completing a PhD which was very well received. He followed me as President of the BMS (and helped with the BMS presence at the Bangkok IMC meeting) and was a real driver to modernise the BMS and take it forward and make it fit for the next generations of mycologists. Nick always brought his tremendous enthusiasm to tasks in hand, motivating others around him'.
Prof Naresh Magan, BMS General Secretary
'One of his masterminded projects, the International Mycological Congress in Edinburgh 2010, had Nick written all over it - great science during the day and great socialising in the evenings - the “best ever” IMC meeting.
His enthusiasm, drive, vison, and innovation were second to none in my view.
Thus, his inputs into the BMS were sadly missed during his long fight with illness in the last few years.
He will be sorely missed by all who were lucky enough to know and work with him'.
Prof Simon Avery, BMS President 2019-20