David Bowden (‘D B’ to many) was a consultant orthodontist in the Mersey region. He was born on 27 January 1939 and grew up in Warrington, the son of Mary Bowden née Carter and William Ernest Bowden, his father being a general practitioner. His school years were spent at Malvern and as a boy he reputedly led a free, idyllic open-air existence. Walking, camping and climbing adventures with good friends continued into his university years. David loved sport, playing hockey for Warrington, and later became a keen golfer. Having qualified in dentistry in Liverpool in 1963, he undertook house officer and senior house officer posts there, plus a research post in the department of medical genetics. In 1966, he met Jan, and they married two years later. By then, David was specialising in orthodontics in Manchester. In 1972 he was appointed as a senior lecturer and honorary consultant in orthodontics in Cardiff, where he taught on the first two-year orthodontic course in the country, which started in 1974. He also published two articles on headgear therapy in 1978, which are still studied by orthodontic trainees decades later (‘Theoretical considerations of headgear therapy: a literature review. 1. Mechanical principles’ *Br J Orthod.* 1978 Jul;5[3]:145-52, ‘Theoretical considerations of headgear therapy: a literature review. 2. Clinical response and usage’ *Br J Orthod.* 1978 Oct;5[4]:173-81). In 1979, David, Jan and their young family returned to the northwest, where David had been appointed consultant orthodontist in the Mersey region, based in Chester. David was also very much involved in teaching at Liverpool University Dental School and the early development of the orthodontic specialist training pathway. He held this consultant post for 20 years until he retired. Alongside his clinical work, David was also extremely active on both local and national committees. He held many senior roles, including chair of the British Orthodontic Society’s consultant orthodontist group from 1994 to 1997, chair of the orthodontic specialist advisory committee of the Royal College of Surgeons of England and chair of the British Orthodontic Society’s ethics committee from 1999 to 2002. These were challenging times, with judgements and compromises to make, but David’s decisions in the best interests of patients and professionals were always sound and well considered. Having retired in 1999, he was awarded life membership of the British Orthodontic Society and was further honoured to be elected president in 2009, the highest honour the society can bestow and a mark of the respect in which he was held. His family was a great source of pride and pleasure to David. Married to Jan for 52 years, a loving father to Katherine and Sally, he relished being grandpa to Katy, Elin and James, sharing with them his sense of fun. Thanks to his influence, the whole family inherited his passion for the great outdoors. He and Jan shared their Christian faith; David was a member of the St James’ Christleton congregation for over 40 years, contributing as churchwarden and as an active member of the parish council and other committees. Retirement allowed David and Jan more time to enjoy their garden, music and travel, particularly to Italy, a once in a lifetime trip to Australia, walking holidays in Switzerland and time regularly spent in Dorset. More recently, a favourite holiday location was on the Scilly Islands, which he and Jan were able to revisit one last time, when he was 80, despite David’s deteriorating health. David died in hospital after a long battle with cancer on 12 October 2020, aged 81. He had a positive influence on the lives of many: the patients for whom he cared, the students he taught and the many orthodontists whom he trained or whose careers were enhanced by the structures he was instrumental in creating. He led by example – a combination of hard work and setting direction, seeking opportunities for his junior colleagues to flourish, and taking pride if they did, right up until the last. Many colleagues will miss his support, guidance and friendship.