Emeritus Professor Ivor Robert Horton Kramer who was Professor of Oral Pathology and Dean and Director of Studies of the Institute of Dental Surgery from 1970 to 1983 has died aged 93. He qualified in dentistry from the Royal Dental Hospital London in 1944 and spent the next four years in part-time general practice and as an assistant to the pathologist at the Princess Louise Hospital for Children. In 1948 he went to work with Sir Alexander Fleming in St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington testing the effects of penicillin on certain micro-organisms. The following year he was invited to create a department of pathology at the newly established Institute of Dental Surgery at the Eastman Dental Hospital. In addition, he also lectured in the basic science courses at the Royal College of Surgeons and the Royal Dental Hospital in dental histology. His lectures were memorable, immaculately presented, and invariably punctuated by a subtle wry smile which was difficult to interpret. All who heard him were left with an indelible impression. His early studies and research in all aspects of dental and oral pathology established the reputation of his department. Studies on tumours of odontogenic origin and oral pre-cancerous lesions resulted in the publication of over 100 papers. He edited the *Archives of Oral Biology* for ten years from 1959 and co-authored *Histological typing of odontogenic tumours, jaw cysts and allied lesions* (WHO). His appointment as Dean of the Institute in 1970 led to new fields of endeavour. He established new Master’s degree courses of study in the principal branches of dentistry and exponentially expanded research. Outside the Institute, he held innumerable distinguished appointments including membership of the Board of the Faculty of Dental Surgery and the Council of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, the Council of Postgraduate Medical Education in England and Wales, the General Dental Council, the WHO Expert Advisory Panel on Dental Health and many others. He was President of the British Division of the International Association for Dental Research and was awarded a DSc in medical science by London University and an honorary doctorate by Helsinki University. In 1966 he received the Howard Mummery Prize by the British Dental Association, the Maurice Down Award by the British Association of Oral Surgeons in 1974, and the Colyer Gold Medal by the Faculty of Dental Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons of England in 1985. On retirement he was awarded an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours in 1984. Professor Kramer married Dr Elizabeth Dalley and they had one son, Stephen. She passed away in 1978. He later married Mrs Dorothy Toller; she too passed away in 1985. He married Mrs Virginia Webster in 1991 and she survives him together with his son, Stephen.