Michael Cherry (1959,O), friend of Peter Michael Foote (1959W) let us know that his friend passed away.  We later we received a full obituary from  Dr Sydney Cullis (1960F) that we have added to the this article. 

Here follows a full obituary received from Sydney Cullis:

Obituary for Peter Michael Foote for ODU

Mike was born in Edinburgh on 27th June 1942 but his parents moved to Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) where commenced his education at Whitestones School as a border and then entered White House at Bishops in 1956. He had a distinguished career there, especially on the sports field, earning his full rugby, cricket and athletics colours. I first got to know him in 1958 when I was scrum half and he was flyhalf in the Under 16B team, coached by Mike Fisher. The following year he found himself flyhalf in the 1st XV and made the position his own for the next two years, captaining the team in 1960. On the cricket field he captained the 3rd XI in 1958 and was an attacking opening batsman for the 1st XI for the next two years – on one occasion he reached his 50 with the total at only 52! He was selected for the South African Nuffield team in 1961. On the athletics track he was Victor Ludorum, winning all six events that he had entered in his final year. He was squash champion for two years and a School Prefect.

In 1961 he started studying Medicine at UCT where he continued his sporting career. He graduated in 1968 and returned to his home town, Bulawayo, to commence his post graduate training at Mpilo Hospital.

Mike was inspired by the late Robin Gordon to commence training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology , moving to the UK to complete his training. He gained his MRCOG (Member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists) before returning to Mpilo Hospital as fellow consultant with Robin Gordon. In 1980 he moved to Harare to commence private practice - first with a former cricket friend, Tony Robertson, and then joined Ian Brown and Mike Saunders. In 1994 he moved to Khamis in Saudi Arabia and in 2004 to Burnie in Tasmania.

He married Marion in 1966 and they had two boys, Julian and Robin. They separated in 1988 and in 1994 he married Joey. They enjoyed a wonderful life in Saudi making the best of their love of adventure, visiting many countries . Mike had a deep love and understanding of the bush and was happiest when sharing these experiences with his family and friends. As an optimist he was always convinced everything would be OK, whatever happened.

Mike cared deeply for his patients and extended great kindness to all his friends, patients and acquaintances wherever he worked. Sadly he developed Parkinson’s in 2014 and, after retirement, moved to the UK to be nearer to his

two boys and their families . A great family man, he loved being part of their lives. He was always ready to enjoy the company of family and friends - even when seriously affected by Parkinson’s. As he needed more and more care, he and Joey decided to return to their old home in Zimbabwe and, it was while there, he suddenly collapsed and died on the 9th of April 2024. His ashes have been scattered in his beloved Matabeleland bush at Ngweshla pan in the Hwange National Park - for me, this was especially poignant as my first trip ever to Rhodesia/Zimbabwe had been with him to Hwange when we were at Medical School together.

Michael Cherry originally wrote to us saying the following:

I am sad to inform you that Mike Foote passed away on 9th April.  Mike left Bishops in 1960;  he matriculated in 1959 and stayed on for post matric.

Notwithstanding impressive scholastic achievements (being in the top 10% of his class overall) Mike’s best-remembered accomplishments at school were in sport and athletics.  He played as flyhalf in Bishop’s first team rugby for three seasons;  he opened the batting for the Bishop’s first eleven for the same number of years; he was the school squash champion for two years; and in his last year, Mike made a clean sweep of wins in all eight athletic events he entered.  Even after leaving school his sporting feats continued: in his first year at UCT he played cricket as opening bat for Western Province.

Mike forged an illustrious career in medicine studying first at UCT, where he acquired his MBChB and then, after a period of general practice, completing his qualification as a gynaecologist through his studies at Edinborough University.  Mike’s first practice as a gynaecologist was in  Zimbabwe.  The later part of his career, however, saw him practice in several other countries, chief amongst them UK, Saudi Arabia and Tasmania.

Mike’s career came to an end with the onset of Parkinson’s disease which he battled courageously for several years with the determined help of his wife, Joey.  It is appropriate that Mike died in Zimbabwe: it was a country he loved, where he was born.

Our sincerest condolences to his widow and extended family.