Clifford “Grant” Tulloh was consultant ophthalmologist at Bristol Eye Hospital and Frenchay Hospital from 1963 until Parkinson’s disease necessitated his early retirement in 1981. He attended Newcastle Grammar School, followed by the University of Durham with graduation in 1949. As registrar and senior registrar at Moorfields Eye Hospital (High Holborn Branch) he learned clinical and surgical ophthalmology, to which were added research achievements in glaucoma and especially retina detachments as research fellow at the Institute of Ophthalmology, University of London (1953–62). These were converted into a remarkable score of higher degrees. I was particularly impressed by his cogently argued evidence that raised ocular tension, complicating iridocyclitis betrayed a predisposition to so called primary glaucoma.

A consultant post at Eastbourne Eye Hospital from 1962 was cut short by his appointment at Bristol in 1963.

The tragedy of an early onset of unrelenting progressive parkinsonism with marked speech defect disrupted two lives, his own and that of his wife Phoebe who nursed him devotedly at home without respite throughout: her loyalty was unquestioning. Their strength of character triumphed over many years of adversity: he showed no sign of complaint or resentment, although intellectually unimpaired, and encouraged Phoebe’s talent for painting.

His ability to see the logical wood for the distracting trees produced swift decisive conclusions presented in direct laconic style. His surgery showed a corresponding economy of fluent movement, consistent with his skill in piano playing and his undergraduate swimming and water polo of which he was captain at university.

He leaves a widow; one son, a consultant paediatric cardiologist; and one daughter, a teacher of science; and five grandchildren.