First Title value, for Searching Fish, Sidney Francis (1912 - 1998)

2024-05-11T15:10:39Z

by Sarah Gillam
Publication Date 2023-08-17
Asset Path Root/Lives of the Fellows/E010000-E010999/E010400-E010499
Occupation Dental surgeon Specialist in dental prosthetics Dental educator
Details Francis Fish was head of the department of dental prosthetics at the London Hospital dental school. He was born on 23 April 1912 in Plaistow, East London, the son of Francis Raymond Fish, a foreman at a disinfectant works, and Elizabeth Fish née How. Fish studied dentistry at the London Hospital and qualified in 1940. During the Second World War he served in the Army Dental Corps. He then spent a few years in private practice, before joining the London Hospital dental school in 1950 as a part-time assistant. In the same year he was appointed as a lecturer in the department of dental prosthetics, and in 1956 became head of the department. He appointed a scientist with experience in the properties of materials to his staff, which led to the development of the pioneering department of material science in dentistry. He became a professor in 1965 and retired in 1977. A key theme of his teaching to clinical students – and his research – was the importance of physiology and anatomy to dentistry. He also had a special interest in the dental problems of the elderly, which led to the establishment of a two-year MSc in gerodontics. In 1991 his book *The dental school of the London Hospital Medical College, 1911-1991: the story of London’s dental school* (London Hospital Dental Club, 1991) was published. In September 1940 he married Elizabeth Ruby Lunn (née Scott), an accomplished pianist and music teacher. They had two daughters. Predeceased by his wife, who died in 1992, Fish died on 4 September 1998 in Chippenham, Wiltshire. He was 86.
Resource Identifier RCS: E010450
Collection Plarr's Lives of the Fellows
Format Obituary
Format Asset

First Title value, for Searching Laird, William Ronald Edwards (1939 - 2015)

2024-05-11T15:10:39Z

by Damien Walmsley
Publication Date 2023-07-06
Asset Path Root/Lives of the Fellows/E010000-E010999/E010300-E010399
Occupation Specialist in dental prosthetics
Details William Ronald Edwards Laird qualified from the University of Glasgow in 1962. Following dental practice in London, Ronnie returned to Glasgow to become Lecturer in Pharmacology and then Dental Prosthetics. It was here that he met Kay, his wife, who worked as a staff nurse in the oral surgery department. In 1970 he undertook research at the Eastman, London in physiological jaw movements and in 1974 worked at Manchester Dental School as Senior Lecturer in Prosthetics. Ronnie was appointed Professor of Dental Prosthetics and Head of Department at the University of Birmingham from 1984 until his retirement in 2004. He was Director and Head of the School of Dentistry from 1989 to 1994. There was turmoil and change at the university and Ronnie was asked by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Sir Michael Thompson, to undertake changes in dentistry. Ronnie kept the ship afloat and Birmingham emerged a much stronger school. Appointed as Public Orator for the university at degree ceremonies, Ronnie introduced well known honorary graduands before the award of their degree. His introductory speech for each of the awardees was meticulous in preparation. Externally, he served as Chair of the Council of Deans of Dental Schools (1993-1995), President of the British Society of Prosthetic Dentistry (1996) and both member and Chair of various GDC committees, including the Finance Committee and Professional Conduct Committee (1989-2003). He was a champion of the education and training of dental nurse assistants and was a member of their national examining board. Ronnie was a super clinician on removable prosthodontics and did attract his fair share of difficult cases, which he handled professionally and always put the interests of the patient first. He loved teaching and a Facebook page set up as a memorial received over a hundred likes and many more comments. All attested to his fairness and expertise as a teacher. Outside dentistry he had an encyclopaedic knowledge of Scottish football, and followed Queens Park where he sponsored the match ball at home games. He loved his cars, including Rovers and Jaguars. In his latter years he spent time in Millport, an island off the Scottish coast which was his 'island of dreams'. Ronnie loved people, he loved conversations and he was in the true sense of the word, a raconteur – never stuck for an anecdote or a joke. At work gatherings or family events he was often called to give speeches – he had a great gift for capturing the moment. He will be missed by Kay, Simon and Sally, the wider family and his grand-daughters, Poppy and Charlotte.
Resource Identifier RCS: E010315
Collection Plarr's Lives of the Fellows
Format Obituary
Format Asset

Search Results for Medical Obituaries - Narrowed by: Specialist in dental prosthetics

First Title value, for Searching Fish, Sidney Francis (1912 - 1998)

First Title value, for Searching Laird, William Ronald Edwards (1939 - 2015)