Nigel Offen was chief executive of Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust and a former general surgeon. He was born on 24 January 1943 in Brighton, Sussex, the only child of Harold Forsyth Offen, an accountant, and Pamela Offen née Lawson. He was educated at Upminster County Primary School and Palmer’s School in Grays. He went on to study medicine at St Bartholomew’s Hospital Medical School. He qualified in 1966 with the Bentley prize. He was a house physician at Willesborough Hospital in Ashford, Kent and a house surgeon at St Albans City Hospital. He was then a demonstrator in anatomy at Barts. He gained his FRCS in 1971 and went on to a career as a general surgeon. He wrote papers on vascular topics. From 1995 to 1999 he was chief executive of Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust, which ran Colchester General Hospital. After he retired, he became involved in local politics, becoming a Liberal Democrat councillor, representing Shrub End ward, for eight years. He was also a portfolio holder for business and resources. He enjoyed cricket. Nigel Offen died on 1 October 2016 at the age of 73. He was survived by his wife Sharon, children (and their partners) Toby, Giles, Lindsay and Anna, and grandchildren Jo Jo, Gracie and Lucinda.