Alex Bird died on 6 November 2002, aged 75. Born in Johannesburg, Alex Bird studied dentistry at the University of Witwatersrand. At an early stage, he developed an interest in oral surgery, working with Lester Brown at Baragwanath Hospital in Johannesburg. This was to shape his future career. He came to London in 1954 to study for the Fellowship in Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. He spent two years as registrar at Odstock Hospital and married Louise Jones in 1958. He returned to South Africa with his new wife, intending to settle. He gained enormous experience in the management of maxillofacial injuries, at a time of considerable civil unrest but became increasingly disturbed by the political climate in the early 60’s. He decided to move to England with Louise and their young daughter Ann in 1963. The family settled in Portsmouth where David was born. Alex made a major contribution to the provision of oral surgery services in the local area. He was promoted to consultant in 1978 and worked tirelessly to create the new department at Queen Alexandra Hospital which opened in May 1979. He remained a key member of the Head and Neck Cancer team until his retirement in 1992. He earned the respect of his colleagues locally. He was elected chairman of the Portsmouth section of the British Dental Association and chairman of the Medical Staff Committee of the Portsmouth Hospitals. He was a fearless champion of patients and the doctors and nurses involved in their care. He enjoyed a robust relationship with hospital administrators and had little tolerance of the new bureaucracy which was beginning to emerge within the NHS. Alex was actively involved in the local community and had a broad range of interests. For the last ten years, he was a governor of Sharps Copse Primary School and had been secretary of the Emsworth Community Association. He was sailing secretary of the Emsworth Sailing Club, past secretary of the local RNLI and had a passionate interest in organ music. He was devoted to his family and is survived by his wife Louise, daughter Ann, son David and grandchildren Katie and John to whom we extend our warmest sympathies. His friends and colleagues will all have their own memories of Alex but above all, he will be remembered for his sense of humour and his laugh. He was a man of colour and warmth. He will be greatly missed.