Alan Campbell was a consultant orthodontist in the department of children’s dentistry at Guy’s Hospital, London. He was born in Peterborough on 9 August 1921. His father, John Donaldson Campbell, was originally from Glasgow. His mother was Eleanor Campbell née Snow. He entered Guy’s Hospital Dental School and qualified in 1944. After serving as a houseman in the conservation department, he was called-up as a surgeon lieutenant in the Navy, serving on HMS Royal Arthur, a shore station based at Corsham, Wiltshire, where one of his fellow officers was the future Duke of Edinburgh. On demobilisation, Alan returned to Guy’s to complete a medical degree, since he had already decided on a hospital career in orthodontics for which, at that time, a medical degree was considered an essential additional qualification. He gained his MRCS LRCP in 1951. Alan then joined the Guy’s department of children’s dentistry and, in 1954, took the newly introduced orthodontic diploma of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. At that time, in the era before preformed bands, one component of the practical examination involved the fabrication of molar bands from stainless steel tape. Not relying on the Eastman Dental Hospital’s newly installed electronic welders, he was the only candidate to bring along his own trusted Watkin welder. Shortly after obtaining his FDSRCS, he was appointed as a part-time orthodontic consultant to St Mary’s and West Middlesex hospitals and established his Harley Street practice. In 1966 he returned to Guy’s to take up a consultant appointment in the department of children’s dentistry, where he was to remain for the rest of his professional life. The appointment at Guy’s involved outpatient general anaesthetic sessions, an inpatient list for minor oral surgery and the management of cleft lip and palate babies. He also had one session a week supervising treatment being undertaken by students. As a junior member of staff at the time I was both delighted and astonished to find here was a consultant who, unlike his senior colleagues, was prepared to offer and demonstrate expert clinical practice at the chairside. Popular with students, Alan was soon also involved in undergraduate activities as president of the Guy’s Hospital Swimming and Water Polo clubs. In 1964 Alan had agreed to become the honorary secretary of the British Society for the Study of Orthodontics (BSSO), doubtless persuaded to do so by his good friend and now head of department Jack Tulley, who had become BSSO president. This was a serious undertaking; Alan’s role involved the near single-handed management of a learned society of 600 national and international members. He was to serve in this capacity for the next five years. In 1970 he agreed to become chairman of the social committee of the Third International Orthodontic Congress, which was due to take place in 1973 at the Festival Hall in London under the chairmanship of Jack Tulley and would be attended by 1,700 delegates from 50 countries. Alan’s efforts delighted international delegates, with a government reception at Lancaster House, another at the Royal College of Surgeons of England and a final banquet, followed by the ceremony of beating the retreat provided by the Irish Guards and a magnificent firework display on the Thames, watched by well satisfied diners from the balcony of the Festival Hall! This was by no means his only collaboration with Jack Tulley, as both had always been committed to advancing the teaching of children’s dentistry and orthodontics and, in 1960, had jointly published a *Manual of practical orthodontics, etc* (Bristol, John Wright & Sons), which ran to three editions and was revised by their successors to continue as the standard UK undergraduate textbook for another 20 years. In 1975 Alan, always elegant and courteous and now a respected and commanding figure, became BSSO president. In that year, his predecessor Jeffrey Rose had published a discussion paper on the future of the society. As a result, both were invited to attend the annual conference of the British Association of Orthodontists (BAO), which at that time was a powerful voice addressing the needs of orthodontic specialists working within the General Dental Services of the NHS. During late night informal discussions which followed the conference dinner, they were able to convince the officers of BAO of the long-term benefit of the two societies combining, but it would take until 1994 for the united British Orthodontic Society to come into being. By this time, Alan had become a trustee of the Friends of Guy’s Hospital and the speech therapy unit attached to the City University. Sadly, his latter days were dogged by ill health, which required cardiac surgery. During this time, he lost his wife Margaret (née Hepburn), to whom he had been married for 52 years, as well as his elder daughter, Gillian. All this he bore with courageous fortitude, supported by his partner, Joan Richie, another retired orthodontist. Alan died on 28 July 2008 at the age of 86. He was survived by Joan, daughter Jane, son Neil and five grandchildren. He is remembered at the British Orthodontic Society by the award of the President’s Cup, which he donated on demitting office and is presented at the annual dinner to recognise that individual who, in president’s opinion, has contributed most to the society during his or her year of office.