It is with great sadness that we have to report that Michael Lea has died.
Mike was long standing member of the Club, and has been a President of the Arctic Club as well as the Scottish Arctic Club. Mike made many summer expeditions to East Greenland along with his wife Kate. The Club owes Mike an enormous debt of gratitude for his commitment. He set up the current website and the email system, kept the website alive with Arctic stories and was an active committee member. He will be fondly remembered for his kindness and guidance.
Mike always had wonderful stories to tell at the Annual Club Dinners and had some fantastic photographs. Mike was energetic following his retirement and was responsible for writing books and encouraging young people to go to the Arctic.
Kate is also a member of the Arctic Club and will be known to many members. We send her our sincere condolences.
Michael’s cremation will be on Thursday 11 May at 2.00 pm at Eden Valley Crematorium at Temple Sowerby, Cumbria. All are welcome to come.
If you wish to make a donation in Michaels memory I suggest either WithUkraine – this is the official fundraising donation page of the Ukrainian Embassy in the UK (Michael had several Physics links with Ukraine and was there again in 2018 spending a day with Olga and Zhenya in Odessa both of whom are currently staying with me in the UK), or to Eden Animal Rescue. Donations can be made at the cremation, or online at www.walkersfunerals.co.uk or sent c/o Walker’s Funeral Directors, Chapel Street, Appleby-in-Westmorland, CA16 6QR
For those unable to come to the ceremony Kate has produced a booklet about Michael’s life which she is happy to email. Whilst the booklet covers all aspects of his life we are advised that it contains much about their adventures in Greenland.
