John Bunyan

John Bunyan was born on July 18 1935 and educated at Westminster School and in America. He entered Guy's Hospital in 1954 and his outstanding manual dexterity became obvious to staff and students. He qualified LDSRCS in June 1959 having completed his practical requirements in record time and to a superb standard, especially in the quality and variety of crowns, bridges and gold work.

He then took up post as house surgeon to the dental department of St Mary's Hospital, Paddington and assisted his father, also John Bunyan, in his dental practice in Seymour Street. In 1960, he moved to his own rooms at 39 Harley St where he built a truly international reputation, not just for the outstanding quality of his dentistry but equally for his devotion to his patients.

In 1968 while at the FDI meeting in Paris he met P K Thomas, one of the great gnathologists from California. Following this meeting John first brought the gnathologists over to the UK to run courses and then followed them back to the States to make sure that he had missed nothing. Later he told us that these experiences had, on the subject of occlusion, overturned all that he had been taught previously. Thereafter he was always keen to use new ideas. A large part of his success was due to the amount of time that he spent explaining the treatment plans to his patients.

His study groups allowed others to see for themselves his exceptional results. Yet Bunyan's ideas and brilliant work were not recognized by the traditionalists or by the academically based, and John wondered if the profession was ready to advance beyond the simplified views on occlusion still being taught.

No account of his life would be complete without referring to his use of a dilute solution of sodium hypochlorite (Milton) applied to all wounds. It followed on from his father's work which spanned forty years of research. This research showed that the solution works by encouraging leukotaxis and by assisting survival of slightly damaged cells thus allowing effective repair. It also acts as a simple antiseptic as well as lysing old blood.

John's hobbies included cars, clock-making and model building but his family and friends were the true centres of his life. He died from cancer on 29th July 2000. He is survived by his wife Lavinia, his four children and seven grandchildren.

H. C. / G. J. L.

Henry Laurence Quinlan

Major General Henry Laurence Quinlan died aged 94 on 29 October 2000 in Frimley Park Hospital.

Henry Quinlan was typical of the many talented Irish medical and dental graduates who joined the British Army between the wars, choosing, as an alternative to civilian general practice, a career which combined travel and excitement. He was a kind and gentle man, but also a firm but fair disciplinarian. Born in Castletowneroche, Co Cork on 5 January 1906 where his father was a local doctor, his secondary education was at Clongowes Wood College, Co Kildare. In 1926 he qualified as Bachelor of Dental Surgery at the National University of Ireland. He immediately crossed the Irish Sea and worked initially as an associate to a Mr Glickman in East Ham.

In 1927 he applied to join the army and was granted a temporary commission as a lieutenant on the general list that same year. His first posting was to Southern Command where he served in dental centres in Tidworth, Devizes, and Reading. Perhaps it was the lure of untold riches but by now a captain he embarked on the troopship Neuralia in 1932 on a posting to the British Military Hospital in Shanghai, and while there served on detachments in Tientsin and Hong Kong. This was a happy posting, for it was in Shanghai that he met Nancy. They married on their return to the UK at Corpus Christi Church, Maiden Lane, London on 18 November 1936. Theirs was a true love match of almost 64 years. On the outbreak of the Second World War he was posted to 9 General Hospital and embarked with the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) for France in September 1939. He was eventually evacuated from France on 16 June 1940.

Promoted lieutenant colonel during the war he was posted to India in April 1945. In 1947 he handed over his dental centre to a Pakastani captain, virtually starting off the Pakistani Dental Corps. His career progressed with postings in Germany and as deputy director of dental services for the Middle East Land Forces. On his return to the UK he was appointed honorary dental surgeon to HM The Queen (QHDS). In October 1958 he realised his ambition and was a popular choice when appointed director of the Army Dental Service. During his distinguished tenure as director he saw the end of National Service and was instrumental in starting the hugely successful cadet scheme whereby dental students were aided financially during their later student years in exchange for a return of service. He became a CB in 1959.

He retired from the service in August 1963 and served as Colonel Commandant, Royal Army Dental Corps from 1964-69. In retirement he returned to clinical dentistry and took up an appointment as civilian dental practitioner at Supreme HQ Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Paris. Henry returned to England and ended his clinical career as a dental officer at the Guards Depot in Pirbright.

His retirement was spent playing golf and fishing. Henry and Nancy had four children. He was immensely proud when his daughter Katy qualified as a dentist and undertook a short service commission in his old Corps.

His life spanned the reigns of five monarchs and his service embraced the Second World War, the Korean War and the emergencies in Malaya, Kenya, Cyprus and Aden. He is survived by his wife Nancy and their four children and ten grandchildren.

R. R. T.