Chris Kettler’s defining achievement was his contribution to the formation of the British Orthodontic Society, but he is remembered for so much more. A specialist practitioner, he was Secretary of the British Orthodontic Society (BOS) three times, he was also an active British Dental Association member, an expert witness for Dental Protection, and among many other voluntary roles, Secretary to the Bedford-based Great Ouse Orthodontic Study group. He worked selflessly for orthodontics in innumerable ways. His mastery of the Begg appliance was legendary and his ability to demonstrate it fondly remembered by colleagues he taught as a postgraduate clinical lecturer at the Eastman. He had the potential to become a consultant but he opted instead to open his own practice limited to orthodontics in Bedford. The new NHS orthodontic contract of April 2006 was based largely on the Bedfordshire Pilot evolved by Chris with Sue Gregory, although he always denied responsibility for the Unit of Orthodontic Activity! He was awarded the MBE in 2011 for services to orthodontics. Chris was Secretary of the British Association of Orthodontists, and the British Society for the Study of Orthodontics, and the first Secretary of the newly formed BOS in 1994. Prior to this, he had the key role of Secretary of the unification working group, a committee of orthodontists set up to merge five orthodontic organisations into one. The formation of the BOS finally came about after 15 years of hard graft by Chris and colleagues. Most specialist organisations are limited to specialists, but not the BOS. Chris passionately believed that everyone practising orthodontics should be part of the Society. He was equally determined to recognise the role of dental care professionals. He was instrumental in the establishment of the role of the Orthodontic Therapist (OT), serving on the GDC Working Group for the OT Curriculum. He served for a time as President of the Orthodontic National Group for Orthodontic Nurses and Therapists. He was keen for the BOS to be influential in European affairs and for many years attended meetings of European societies. Latterly, he was an invaluable member of the BOS Archive and Museum Committee. Chris liked to avoid the limelight and work behind the scenes but his enormous contribution to the specialty ensures he rightly takes his place as a luminary in the history of UK orthodontics. Ever proud of his family, he is survived by three sons and several grandchildren.