It is with sadness which we report the passing of Professor Michael Wise CBE, MC, an Honorary Fellow of the Institution for two and a half decades, who died on 13 October, aged 97.

Michael was appointed as Lecturer in Geography at LSE in 1951, and rapidly rose to the ranks of Ernest Cassel Reader in Economic Geography in 1954 and Professor in 1958. As remembered by his colleague Professor David Jones, he was a big man with a kind heart and every bit a gentleman.

As an academic he became extremely influential at national and international levels and is one of only two UK academics who ever achieved the distinction of being President of all three UK geographical societies (The Royal Geographical Society, The Geographical Association and The Institute of British Geographers) and The International Geographical Union.

Outside of his academic role, Michael contributed his expertise to various committees, including as Chairman of the Ministry of Agriculture Committee of Inquiry into Statutory Smallholdings (1963–67) and the Department of Transport Advisory Committee on the Landscape Treatment of Trunk Roads (and later Motorways), on which he served for twenty years, as chair for ten.

Michael was made an Honorary Fellow of the IES in recognition of his contributions to the sector, and the aims of the Institution.