Sir David Mason was a professor of oral medicine and head of the department of oral medicine and pathology at University of Glasgow’s dental school. He was born in Paisley on 5 November 1928, the son of George Hunter Mason and Margaret Mason née Kean. Following schooling at Paisley Grammar School and Glasgow Academy, he studied dentistry at the University of St Andrews, gaining his LDS in 1951 and his BDS in 1952. He then carried out his National Service in the dental branch of the RAF for two years. He was subsequently a registrar in oral surgery at Dundee from 1954 to 1956 and then spent a period in general practice, while also a visiting dental surgeon at Glasgow Dental Hospital. He gained his fellowship of the Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 1957 and qualified in medicine at the University of Glasgow in 1962. He was a senior registrar from 1962 to 1964 and a senior lecturer in dental surgery and pathology at the University of Glasgow and an honorary consultant dental surgeon from 1964 to 1967. He was awarded an MD with commendation from the University of Glasgow in 1967 and gained his membership of the College of Pathologists in 1967, this later being elevated to a fellowship (in 1976). In 1967 he was appointed as a professor at the University of Glasgow and retained this post until 1994, after which he was emeritus professor. As chair of oral medicine and oral pathology his research interests were principally focused on biochemical aspects of saliva. He established productive collaborations with others within oral medicine (including with Derrick Chisholm) and oral biochemistry (with Josie Beeley) and co-authored a major textbook – *Salivary gland in health and disease* (London, Philadelphia, Saunders, 1975). Additionally, with Harold Jones, he edited two editions of *Oral manifestations of systemic disease* (London, Saunders, 1980; Bailliere Tindall, 1990) – the contributors being the ‘stars’ of their relevant fields of interest. He held the role of dean of the University of Glasgow between 1980 and 1990, during which time he led investment in new research facilities and the appointment of several staff who later became international leaders in academic dentistry and allied services, for example, as deans of dental schools (in Aberdeen, Belfast, Bristol, Dundee, Hong Kong and University College London), leaders of oral pathology and forensic odontology and in NHS Education for Scotland. As dean he helped raise funds that ultimately led to the establishment of the West of Scotland Centre for Postgraduate Education, which today flourishes under the leadership of NHS Education for Scotland. He had an active role in national and international decision-making groups, including as chairman of the National Dental Consultative Committee (from 1976 to 1980 and from 1983 to 1987) and of the dental committee of the University Grants Committee (from 1983 to 1987). He was convener of the dental council of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow (from 1977 to 1980) and president of the British Society for Dental Research (from 1984 to 1986) and of the British Society for Oral Medicine (from 1984 to 1986). He had a notable role in the regulation of the dental profession in the UK by virtue of membership of various committees between 1974 and 1989, before being elected president of the General Dental Council in 1989, holding this position for five years. During his presidency he oversaw the establishment of a new five-year undergraduate dental surgery degree curriculum, and the beginnings of formalising continued professional development. Internationally, together with Dean Millard of the University of Michigan, David established the World Workshop on Oral Medicine in 1988. This group now creates consensus reports on education and research and the clinical practice of oral medicine. Similarly, with a small group of like-minded leaders from Spain, Portugal and the UK, David helped establish the European Association of Oral Medicine in 1998, which now has a significant membership. David’s professional achievements were recognised nationally and internationally; he became an honorary fellow of the Faculty of Dentistry of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in 1988, of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 1995 and of the Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 2001. At the Royal College of Surgeons of England, he received the John Tomes Prize in 1979 and the Colyer Medal in 1992. He was appointed as a CBE in 1987 and knighted in 1992. He was elected to the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1999. David had talents outside his professional life. He initially excelled in rugby but later focused upon golf. He was a keen and highly proficient golfer, representing Scotland in international golf tournaments, was a member of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and was happy to engage in golfing events with academic colleagues and students (when he inevitably won). David used his academic skills and interest in sport to co-write a history of his golf club, the Kilmacolm Golf Club, of which he was a member for 64 years and club captain in 1976 (*A centenary history of the Kilmacolm Golf Club [a very pleasant golfing place]* Kilmacolm, Kilmacolm Golf Club, 1991). David and his wife, Judy (née Armstrong), married in 1967 and brought up a family of three children – Michael (now a doctor), Katie (a hospitality manager) and Andrew (a solicitor) – in an encouraging, loving and fun-filled household. David died on 27 March 2022 at the age of 93.