Professor Ronald Emslie who died on 31st May, was born on the 9th March 1915 of Scottish parents. Although born south of the border, throughout his life, he remained very proud of his ancestry. He was educated at Felsted School after which he first embarked upon actuarial training which he came to dislike so much that after three years he left the City, crossed London Bridge and entered Guy’s Hospital Dental School. He graduated BDS of the University of London in 1943 and after 6 months as a house surgeon was commissioned in the dental branch of the Royal Navy and appointed to the British Naval Base in Haifa. In 1946, he returned to civilian life dividing his time between teaching at Guy’s and practice in the West End. He soon became a full time lecturer in the department of preventive dentistry which had recently been established at Guy's with funding provided by the late Lord Nuffield. This led, in 1948, to a one year research fellowship at the University of Illinois in Chicago where he established his life-long interest in periodontology. However, he always claimed that the jewel of his year in Chicago was meeting Dorothy Dennis, a farmer’s daughter from the Middle West whom, in 1951, he married. Returning to Guy’s he was appointed head of the department of preventive dentistry, a post he held until his retirement in 1980. In 1961, under the auspices of the Nuffield Foundation, he visited Nigeria for four months to carry out a detailed study of the gangrenous facial disease, *Cancrum Oris*, which was prevalent there. His report proved of immeasurable value in the management of this seriously disfiguring condition. In 1956, he was appointed as Reader in preventive dentistry and in 1962 he was promoted to ‘Personal Chair’, the title of which in 1970 was expanded to include periodontology. In 1968, Ron Emslie was appointed Dean of dental studies, the first full-time academic to hold the position, which he held until his retirement in 1980. Amongst his major tasks as Dean was the transfer in 1973 of the dental school from the obsolete 19th century building into the newly completed Guy’s Tower. In addition to his duties at Guy’s, for 10 years he served as scientific editor of the *BDJ*, member and for several years was the chairman of the Dental Health Committee of the BDA, chairman of the Fluoridation Society, president of the Odontological Section of the RSM, membership of several FDI Commissions, of the Board of Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons – Vice Dean 1976/77 – and civil consultant in periodontology to the Royal Navy. For his services to the profession, he was elected an Honorary Life Member of the BDA, a fellow of UMDS and recently a fellow of King’s College. Ronald Emslie was blessed with a quiet, patient and equable temperament, and a dry sense of humour; he was modest almost to a fault concerning his own achievements. He had an extremely clear and concise mind, was never in a hurry and always available to discuss problems. He had many interests beyond his work most of which centred around his home and family. In his youth he was an accomplished hockey and squash player and he continued to play tennis until he was well into his 80’s. He greatly enjoyed sailing and regularly took his catamaran on the top of his VW camping van for family holidays in the South of France. In his retirement he revived his youthful interest in Austin 7 cars and completed several successful restorations. His many friends and professional colleagues will wish to extend deepest sympathy to his wife Dot, his sons, Douglas, Robbie and Dennis and his grandchildren.