John Widdicombe has been described as one of the giants of respiratory physiology over the last 50 years. He studied at Oxford, graduating in medicine in 1949 and taking his DPhil there as an MRC scholar at the Nuffield Institute for Medical Research (1953). After two years conscripted at Porton Down Microbiological Research Establishment, he was appointed lecturer, and then senior lecturer, at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London. His research focused on lung mechanics and reflexes. A Visiting Scientist in the Cardiovascular Research Institute in San Francisco (1960-1), he worked on the nervous control of breathing and on the regulation of bronchomotor tone. He was then appointed lecturer in Physiology and Fellow of New College, Oxford (1961) remaining until he became Professor and Chairman of the new Physiology Department at St George’s (1972-92). He received many awards/degrees in his career including his FRCP in London in 1976, an honorary MD from Helsinki University in 2000, nine international medal awards, honorary membership of four international societies and a Life Time Achievement award. He was an Editor of The Journal of Physiology and British Journal of Pharmacology, President of the British Association for Lung Research (1994-8) and and Honorary Treasurer of The Physiological Society (1990-6).

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