Alan Ridgway was a consultant ophthalmic surgeon at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital. He was born in Stanmore, Middlesex. His father, Albert Edward George Ridgway, was a GP; his mother, Helene Genvieve Ridgway née Jansanne, was a couturière. His paternal grandfather qualified as a doctor three months after his son, having previously been an engineer in Malaya. Alan was a pupil at Downside School, from where he applied to study medicine. He won a place at Jesus College, Cambridge in 1958 and qualified in 1964 after three years of clinical studies at the London Hospital. Senior house officer and registrar posts in ophthalmology followed at the Oxford Eye Hospital and Cardiff Royal Infirmary, after which he was appointed as a senior registrar to Birmingham and Midland Eye Hospital in 1970. Birmingham’s large patient referral base, high surgical throughput and diversity of pathology enabled him to develop what became career-long subspecialty interests in the surgical management of conditions affecting the anterior segment of the eye. This included adult and paediatric cataract, corneal disease and glaucoma. He was appointed as a consultant to Manchester Royal Eye Hospital in April 1974 with a job plan that included regular outreach clinics in Trafford General Hospital, Stretford Memorial Hospital and Altrincham General Hospital. Alan, a determined and energetic man, quickly made his mark. In 1974 Manchester Royal Eye Hospital was known for its proud history and the huge and varied population it served, however, it had perhaps under-performed as a national research and training centre for some years. Alan was a highly skilled surgeon and in the vanguard of ophthalmologists carrying out what was at the time innovative capsule preserving (extracapsular) cataract surgery combined with intraocular lens implantation. Extracapsular surgery evolved further in the 1990s via the widespread use of the ultrasonic phacoemulsification technique originally developed by Charles Kelman of New York. Late in his career Alan was adaptable enough to comfortably learn and adopt this smaller incision technique. Small incision extracapsular cataract surgery with intraocular lens implantation remains the operation that has perhaps improved the quality of life of older people the most. Alan served as either secretary or treasurer of the International Intra-Ocular Implant Club from 1976 to 1991. He was an original council member of the UK Implant Society from its establishment in 1977. He was a surgical polymath and introduced many new surgical procedures to Manchester Royal Eye Hospital. He was in the first wave of surgeons introducing and evaluating trabeculectomy (a safer and more reliable glaucoma filtration operation than those available prior to its development). This operation hugely improved long term outcomes in patients suffering from this progressive, potentially blinding disorder. Latterly he added the adjunctive use of antifibrotic techniques (such as Strontium-90 irradiation or topical 5-fluorouracil) to his trabeculectomy procedures to improve their longevity and efficacy. Alan was widely acknowledged as a highly skilled corneal surgeon. He trained many UK and overseas fellows and registrars in modern corneal transplantation techniques. He was generous with his time, but set and expected high standards. He became director of the Manchester corneal transplant and contact lens service and also chaired the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital’s optometric subcommittee from 1978 to 2000. This involved leadership of a large multidisciplinary team of optometrists, dispensing opticians and lay staff in delivering optical, contact lens and low vision aid services. Alan was good with children and throughout his career delivered a weekly paediatric ophthalmology clinic. He introduced modern paediatric cataract and glaucoma surgical techniques to Manchester Royal Eye Hospital. Although he had exacting standards, he was happy to teach the challenging techniques required to trainees wishing to specialise in tertiary paediatric ophthalmology, however, the trainee was very aware of his supervising presence at the operating microscope and learnt to recognise whether all was going well from the pattern of his breathing and the frequency of his ‘harrumphs’! In 1986, he established and organised the screening and treatment of premature infants at risk of retinopathy of prematurity for the North West Regional Health Authority. He led this service until 1993 when a consultant with retinopathy of prematurity as a major part of their job plan was appointed in Manchester. The development and establishment of the Manchester Eye Bank – now part of the UK Transplant corneal service was one of his greatest legacies. This, with expert assistance from his friend and colleague Andrew Tullo, grew into one of the two major centres in the UK for eye banking. Alan carried out many national duties, including serving as an examiner for both the Royal College of Surgeons and the British Orthoptic Society. His orthoptic colleagues valued the advocacy and support he showed them throughout his career. He had familial links to France and spoke French fluently. This enabled him to participate and deliver lectures in French and attend European ophthalmic symposia. He was thus for 10 years the British delegate to the Société Française d’Ophtalmologie. He published 48 peer-reviewed papers, delivered numerous invited lectures and contributed several book chapters. The topics covered were diverse, starting with carotid compression tonography and solar retinopathy, but evolved to concentrate on his long-term interests of glaucoma surgery, corneal transplantation, the genetics and management of inherited corneal dystrophies and the biochemistry of wound healing. Alan was by no means a man whose writing skills were confined to ophthalmology. He enjoyed ownership of a vintage Rolls Royce and wrote of his experiences driving it in Europe for the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club magazine in the article ‘A different experience: GLB7 takes part in two continental rallies.’ He also had a horticultural bent and was an expert on orchids, regularly advising colleagues and friends on their cultivation. He was editor of the newsletter of the North of England Orchid Society for five years and published an essay on the native orchids of south west France. He was a trustee of the north of England eye charity Henshaws Society for Blind People for more than 20 years. He gave generously of his spare time to this society and also chaired their north east branch from 2007 to 2010. Alan was a polymath. Listing his many achievements is relatively easy, but it does not fully encapsulate him or his nature. He was absolutely what would now be characterised as a ‘traditional’ hospital consultant, however he led from the front and expected his team to deliver the standard of care they would wish to be given to their own family. Underneath what could appear an occasionally daunting façade, was a kind, unselfish man who strongly supported them. He was one of the few consultants who came into the hospital on a Saturday to do a ward round – whether he was on-call or not. The annual Christmas parties held at his home for staff and their families were very popular. He also generously invited colleagues and junior staff to his family property in the south west of France. Alan retired from Manchester Royal Eye Hospital in 2001. The high esteem in which he was held by his colleagues was borne out by the very large attendance at his retirement party. Sadly, he lost his first wife Sue (née Wilkinson) to cancer soon after this. He found solace and happiness again with his second wife Kathleen, a widow who was also a longstanding family friend. His Catholic faith was a great comfort to him in his final days. He died on 26 October 2018 at the age of 78 and was survived by Kathleen, two sons (Paul and Graham), a daughter (Marianne) and six grandchildren.