After over 20 years of dedicated service, Mike Tacon, the Head of Mechanical Workshops at the Department of Physics, University of Oxford, is retiring.

Mike has been so much more than just a colleague – he’s been the steady hand behind the scenes, helping to bring world-leading physics experiments to life. His expertise, vision, and unshakable commitment have helped shape the Department’s engineering group into what it is today. From high-precision components to complex assemblies, Mike’s contributions have been central to so many of the Department’s groundbreaking advancements in experimental physics.

But Mike’s legacy goes far beyond the machines and the mechanisms. He’s touched the lives of everyone who’s worked with him – always ready to share his wisdom, lend a hand, or simply have a good about the "lizard men that live underneath the pyramids" (k, Mike). His generosity, warmth, and quiet strength have made the workshop not just a place of work, but a true community.

As a small token of our appreciation and affection, we’re raising funds to send Mike and his wife, Tracy, on a hiking trip to Wengen – a place that holds fond memories for them both. They’ve long shared a love for hiking in the beautiful Swiss mountains, but in recent years, they haven’t had the chance to return. We hope to give them that chance now – to celebrate Mike’s retirement, their journey together, and all the miles still to come.

Every contribution, no matter the size, will help us give Mike the heartfelt send-off he deserves. Let’s help set him off on the right foot – into a well-earned and adventure-filled retirement.

With gratitude,

Adam Lowe and Andy Stokes