Tom Ashcroft arrived in NEWCASTLE in 1961) the year  before I joined the department of Pathology, having previously worked in a respiratory unit at Cardiff at the MRC pneumoconiosis research unit at Langdaff after2 years National service in the Army Medical Corps  . This was where he met Margaret,  I suspect that he also came into contact with Alfred Gordon Heppleston then senior lecturer and with an interest in respiratory disease. As Professor at Newcastle, Heppleston recruited both Tom and I as demonstrators in pathology. (The lowest form of academic life). We shared a room which looked out on the mortuary roof. We were equipped with ancient monocular microscopes. I remember a twinge of envy when Tom as senior obtained a microscope with integral light rather than a mirror for illumination.
  Tom made early contact with our colleague Professor Sir Nicolas Wright. The latter then a houseman had failed to label an appendix sent for examination either incorrectly or not at all? As demonstrators we prepared specimens for microscopic examination in an atmosphere of unventilated formalin, performed autopsies, and taught medical students. We also started research, and Tom had the dubious pleasure of being supervised by his Professor in a study of mesothelioma .( A cancer caused by asbestos , )then as now common on Tyneside.
  Time passed and we both became lecturers and took the primary examinations of the newly formed College of Pathologists.  We were the first cohort of Pathologists to take examinations since our consultant colleagues became members automatically. I recall we went to the Southbank to hear a Bach concerto for three harpsichords. We subsequently took the final examination in 1972  together in Glasgow, memorable only because the invigilator gave polo  mints to all the GLASGOW candidates only. as a Celt Tom felt left out.
 
  In those days college exams did not count for much and we both needed to complete our MD theses. The labour involved was formidable even after the research material had been collected . No computers, no electronic calculators, and any graphics done in the University graphic department. The required number of copies of the several hundred page book needed superfine carbon paper and even then was hardly readable. Eventually they were finished and passed scrutiny in 1971. Tom was awarded the Milburn Prize.
Margaret and my wife Jean became lifelong friends, and over the years we kept in contact. Telephone conversations were occasionally of epic length, and I suspect our shortcomings were adequately covered.
  After completing his MD Tom was appointed a consultant at Leighton Hospital , Crewe ( 73-79)(?) This was one  of a series of  standard District general hospitals built by Poulsen of ill fame as an associate of T Dan Smith. The senior pathologist was Dr Heppleson the brother of Alfred Gordon, (much the more amiable of the two.) I recall visiting Tom at the hospital and found him in a room several times larger than any in Newcastle and larger than anything that I had to offer at Freeman Hospital. Anyway the fact that Tom would be able to specialise as a respiratory pathologist with major clinical unit was enough to sway him and ensure his return to Newcastle.  The family home was now in Mithchell avenue and was shortly provided with a photographic dark room. During the transit Tom stayed in a Hotel for a few weeks, and I was persistently defeated at weekly chess games.
  This was an exciting time at FH with the development heart and lung transplants in which Tom became our local expert, as well as a continued interest in industrial lung disease, with its medico legal aspects. It was only when I visited the Postgraduate Hospital in London that I learnt how highly regarded he was in the field of lung pathology. A search of Google scholar shows that his mesothelioma papers are still quoted as well as papers arising from clinical  work in at FH. With the appointment of Mary Robinson, and Mark Bennett we had a team which covered the hospital specialities and produced a significant of clinical research. Following retirement in1998 Tom  further developed his interest in photography specialising in fine BW prints often with complex development effects and was a regular exhibitor and lecturer at the local photographic clubs, and a frequent prize winner. He was an early exponent of digital photography. He also had numerous acceptances of prints internationally and had Gold and Silver awards.

  Tom was an early member of the SPG (senior pathologists group organised by Dr Alex Watson) which met in the Wellington Hotel Kenton for The convenience of Dr David Appleton. On one occasion a meeting of the SPG coincided with a meeting of Tom,s photographic chums in the same Hotel allowing him the best of both worlds, and confirming that photographers were just a gossipy and opinionated as pathologists.

  Tom continued to attend the monthly SPG outings during his long struggle with memory loss and the effects of osteoporosis which he bore with great fortitude. Let me try and say something of Tom as a friend and colleague. He was essentially a quiet reflective man, rarely putting himself forward. Kind and thoughtful he was held in great regard by our technical staff. His stammer was rarely a problem and seemed to get less with age, or perhaps familiarity. I was grateful for his support and generosity of spirit on several occasions. He will be greatly missed and remembered with affection.