Loving father, devoted husband and dear friend, Mikhail Shiyanov - or Misha as we affectionately knew him - tragically passed away on 14 January 2020. Diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at age 14, Misha lost his battle with the disease rapidly following an unsuccessful double lung transplant. He was just 40 years old.

Despite the many trials that he no doubt faced throughout his life because of the disease, Misha never let CF define him, fighting hard to live as active, productive and fulfilling a life as he could, right up to his untimely death. In fact, Misha never complained about his illness, preferring instead to concentrate on the business of living, an ethic, I now realise, that shielded many of us from the constant threat, and ultimately the life-limiting severity, of his condition.

We all loved Misha dearly and will miss him for so many things. His willingness to put others first and offer his help to us when we needed it... His astute political views... His seemingly inexhaustible knowledge of every subject imaginable... Even his jokes about millennials... Misha touched all our lives and he will be missed tremendously, especially by his family, his two beautiful children Violet and Philip, and his lovely wife Renata.

Many of you have expressed a sincere wish to help out in some way, a kind, encouraging gesture that I truly believe can make a meaningful difference at this time. We all understand that the funeral will be costly, for instance, and that coping with everyday life without Misha and his support will be difficult on his family. So I have set up this page to give each of us the opportunity to help ease the financial burden on them in the challenging days ahead and enable us to share some of our loving thoughts and remembrances of Misha too.

Misha’s funeral will take place on Monday 3 February 2020 at Eltham Cemetery and Crematorium. Please consider offering a donation to the family at this time in lieu of buying or sending flowers.