Professor Neil B. Pride (1931–2016)

He was a respiratory physiologist who made major contributions in the field of lung mechanics, which helped to explain the mechanisms of airway narrowing in common lung diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Neil was one of the first to do research in COPD, probing its underlying mechanisms and helping us to understand how treatments work.His scientific output dealt with the mechanics of every aspect of the respiratory system, from the nose to the diaphragm, including coughing.He was an outstanding intellect, who not only knew respiratory physiology better than anyone else, but was also knowledgeable about many other areas outside his own research field.He was extraordinarily well-read and had an amazing memory, never seeming to forget anything that he had heard.He was a gifted teacher, able to simplify and communicate complex ideas in lung physiology, and he was a doctor much loved by his patients.For all his brilliance, he was a modest, generous person and an inspiring mentor to young researchers.His writing was as clear as his talks and he published many very influential papers, reviews, chapters and books.