Malcolm Pendlebury died suddenly on Sunday 26 September 2004 at his home in Nottingham; he was 65. Dean of the Faculty of General Dental Practitioners (UK) 1997-2000, Malcolm was one of the profession’s enthusiasts with a wide range of interests in clinical dentistry, teaching and research, and will be sadly missed. Up to the time of his death, he was working in his general dental practice at The Parks in Nottingham, and was also undertaking specialist sessions in prosthodontics and oral surgery at Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham. He was involved in teaching in various fields within the universities of Nottingham, Sheffield and Leeds, was educational adviser to the FGDP(UK) and was, among other projects, engaged in the re-writing and updating of the well-known *Self assessment manual of standards (SAMS)* handbook. Outside dentistry, Malcolm worked on behalf of the World Health Organization in verifying quality assurance in the examination systems of medical schools in the former Yugoslavia. Another interest was transprofessional activity and he had recently organised a conference for the UK Centre for the Advancement of InterProfessional Education on overseas recruitment and cultural change, which embraced medicine, dentistry, nursing, physiotherapy and a number of other healthcare professions. In dental affairs, he was the president-elect of the East Midlands branch of the BDA. A number of Malcolm’s activities throughout his career are worthy of particular mention. He was one of the pioneers of vocational training in the East Midlands, running a vocational training scheme and acting as regional adviser. He was a well-known member of the BDA’s Representative Board and the General Dental Services Committee. Inevitably, this led to much involvement in the committee structure of the BDA, from which he only stood down recently. Finally, he was one of the founder members of the FGDP(UK), making considerable contributions to the development of its structure. He served as its third dean and ensured that the Faculty was soundly based and a permanent member of the family of dental institutions. Most of all, Malcolm will be remembered for the many qualities he brought to the world of general dental practice. He sought to raise the status of general dental practitioners, provide them with standards they could aspire to and thereby to raise the quality of patient care. A career as busy and structured as Malcolm's required certain personal attributes. He brought energy and commitment to the work that he did. Above all, he will be remembered particularly for his enthusiasm and energy in developing the world of primary dental care. Malcolm is survived by a son and a daughter, and his wife Andrea, to whom our sympathies are extended. A funeral service was held in Nottingham, and a further service of remembrance at St Clement Danes Church in London.