He graduated top of his year from the University of Sheffield in 1969 and has been here ever since, for many years as a highly regarded cancer specialist. He is currently Professor in Clinical Oncology at the University of Sheffield, Yorkshire Cancer Research Director of Cancer Research and a trustee at the city's only hospice, St Luke's.

His achievements have been recognised by awards including BMA Academic Role Model in 2005, the Lord Mayor of Sheffield's New Year Honours Award for Service to the Community 1999 and The Star Local Community Hero Award for Health and Lifetime Achievement in 2002.

His interests include railways, photography, tennis and singing.

Ecclesall Woods

IF I ever want to go and lose myself then I go to Ecclesall Woods. We live in the area and go every weekend. My wife and I spend more time there than in the Peak District. I love the wild side of nature and there's an abundance of wildlife in the woods. I love birds and there's plenty of them. Just by walking through you can see woodpeckers and owls roosting. And if you go to the Abbeydale side then you can see Badger setts too. I don't think people realise how much of a treasure these woods are.

Millhouses Methodist Church
WE'RE committed Christians and although it may sound a little twee nowadays we're very keen to make the church a centre for outreach. I'm not an evangelist and won't try and force the Bible on anyone, but I think it's important that we let people know the church is available for those who need it – both spiritually and otherwise. We've got quite extensive facilities and we want to share them with the community through other groups such as Weightwatchers, dancing classes and other organisations.


Weston Park Hospital

I'VE spent 34 years working at Weston Park Hospital so it's a special place to me. The big C still frightens the heck out of people, but when people come to know Weston Park they realise they're going to get friendship and top quality treatment. It's got an amazing family spirit to it too. I've worked with some brilliant people and had some lovely patients. People think it must be dispiriting to work with cancer patients, but you can't cure chronic heart disease or chronic kidney disease, but maybe you can cure cancer. I've got patients I first looked after 30 years ago that I still see at my clinic.

St Luke's Hospice

A HOSPICE may sound like an odd choice for a favourite thing but it's a truly special place. The team at St Luke's is phenomenal and works incredibly hard to provide comfort and care to patients and families at very difficult times. It's inspiring to see families being able to make the most of their final moments together and enjoying each other's company. The gardens at the Little Common Lane site have been transformed into a beautiful oasis so that patients can enjoy the green spaces we associate with Sheffield. The hospice has served thousands of Sheffield families well but the facilities are in need of upgrading.

Hopefully a new hospice building featuring predominantly single rooms and extensive gardens will ensure that a wonderful Sheffield institution can continue its fantastic work.

University of Sheffield

THE university is where I first qualified and so I know it very well! The red brick Firth Court is a beautiful building and it's one I spent a lot of time in. When I was a student in the 60s it was used by the medical school so I spent most of my preclinical training there.

Town Hall

AGAIN, the Town Hall is a stunning building. I've been privileged enough to have been invited there on a number of occasions. It's also something of a landmark building because it's the heart of Sheffield government, whatever your political colours.

Sheffield Cathedral

THE cathedral is a building that continues to grow on me. It's quite modern by cathedral standards and I'm a big fan of older traditional, ornate ones like Canterbury. However, it's an important building and it's one that I'm growing to love.

Sheffield as a whole

SHEFFIELD is a very special city. Where else in the world could I be at my desk in ten minutes and out in the countryside in ten minutes. I love going back to London but I love coming back to my Sheffield even more. I'm an adopted son of the city and I feel very proud of it. I'm lucky that where I live there's a wide variety of places to go out and eat with the family in comfortable surroundings. And if we're going out for a special occasion then there's places to cater for that need too like the Cavendish at Baslow. Sheffield also has a strong sense of community. I love singing and am part of the John Wade Singers and we usually perform a couple of charity concerts every year.

Railways

RAILWAYS have always been a passion of mine although I used to be a lot more involved than I am now. South Yorkshire has some lovely lines and there's talk of restoring the Matlock/Buxton railway, which would be fantastic. If they reconnect the line it'll be one of the nicest in the country going over viaducts, over the dales and through places like Bakewell. I also think the work at Sheffield station has been very good. They've kept some of the grandeur and architecture of the station while modernising it. The entrance is quite special. I'd give them 9.5/10 for the project! We're meant to be getting a speedier service to London and perhaps a more frequent one too which would be great. I just hope the new company that's running the line doesn't get rid of the Master Cutler train – and its legendary breakfast! If we're going to London for a special trip I just love the traditional English breakfast service on the Master Cutler in the restaurant car.