Alan Grant was a professor of prosthetic dentistry at the Turner Dental School at the University of Manchester. Alan was born in Pimpinio, Victoria, Australia on 17 March 1930. On leaving school, he attended the University of Melbourne Dental School, from which he graduated in 1952. He entered general dental practice for a few years, but the lure of learning was magnetic, and he returned to the staff of Melbourne Dental School, from which he gained an MDSc in 1956 and, in 1961, he was awarded a DDSc from his alma mater. Alan was by this time a senior lecturer and he published widely with his colleague Henry Forman Atkinson. In 1967, just two years after the establishment of the Australasian College of Dental Surgeons (now the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons), Alan became one of the inaugural fellows – a distinction of which he was justifiably proud. Alan’s reputation in the fields of dental prosthetics and dental materials had by this time spread and, in 1970, he was invited to the chair of prosthetic dentistry/honorary consultant at the Turner Dental School at the University of Manchester, UK. There, with his friend and colleague George Nixon, a strong department of restorative dentistry was established in addition to a unit of dental materials science, which was to assume an international reputation. He co-authored five textbooks. In addition to research, Alan and George Nixon established a strong link with the University of Airlangga in Indonesia and exchange arrangements were instituted: this led to many MSc and PhD students being trained in Manchester before returning to their alma mater. Alan’s organisational skills, natural humour and amazing ability to douse potentially contentious issues – when appearing to be blissfully asleep – led to him being nominated dean of Manchester Dental School from 1977 to 1981 and 1988 to 1991. He also served as a pro vice chancellor of the University of Manchester from 1988 to 1992. He was president of the British Society of Prosthetic Dentistry from 1989 to 1990. He received many honours, including the triennial gold medal of the British Society for the Study of Prosthetic Dentistry in 1996 (later becoming an honorary member), the International Association for Dental Research’s distinguished scientist award and the gold medal of the University of Airlangga. He became a fellow of the Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 1992 (ad eundem). Alan was a great family man and he and his wife doted on their three children – Matthew, Nick and Helen. Alan and Anne hosted very popular standing-room only Christmas parties for the staff of the department. Alan retired in 2003 when he and Anne returned to Australia, where they set-up house near Brisbane. Retirement enabled Alan and Anne to expand on their already voluminous knowledge of things botanical, in addition to creating a mini-golf course in a nearby field. Alan died on 2 October 2020 at the age of 90. There is no question that he attained the pinnacle of his discipline. He was a perfect gentleman, always considerate and extremely modest. He nurtured long friendships and commanded deep affection and respect. Alan had in immense influence on my life, and I shall miss his wit, warmth and wisdom. Dentistry has indeed lost a leading light.