Ros Quinn (Birkett)

Ros Quinn or Birkett as she became known was a quiet and shy person who nevertheless had a fine sense of humour and was a strong supporter of her profession.

Ros's father had been killed in a plane crash in Africa during the war before Ros herself was born. Her mother was left with an older daughter in addition to Ros and so had to combine her family responsibilities with her own profession of teaching. Ros was brought up in Derbyshire, but the family had a small cottage in Criccieth and to the last Ros regarded Criccieth as her second home.

Ros settled slowly at Manchester perhaps because in her first term she travelled in on a daily basis. However, on qualification in 1966 an attachment had been formed with Mike Birkett a student in the same year. They were to be partners in marriage and in practice for the rest of her life.

Ros was not blessed with good health. For about thirty years she struggled with psychiatric illness and the associated drug regimes. Later she was to have a severe attack of hepatitis. It is a great testament to her and Mike's steadfastedness that they were able to bring up their son Stephen and to continue in practice together in Bacup.

Ros and Mike were very familiar figures at the meetings of the Burnley section of the BDA. Although she was a quiet person, Ros is sorely missed. Mike and his son Stephen have our heartfelt sympathy.

Those who qualified in Manchester in 1966 have been very assiduous in their tradition of holding an annual reunion and social weekend. It was particularly sad for them in early October to be gathering at the weekend immediately following the funerals of Ros Quinn (Birkett) on the Tuesday and Stewart Jackson on the Friday of that very week. Both had similar conditions and had been ill for a period of about twelve months. Both had given mutual support, one to the other during their final illness. Past BDA National President Geoff Garnet spoke at both funerals.

Stewart Higham Jackson

Stewart Jackson was a big man with a big influence on those with whom he came into contact.

He attended Hulme Grammar School in Manchester where he established himself as a first class all-round sportsman. He was a fine swimmer and soccer player. His main pursuit at this time was as a javelin thrower, gaining 3 A.s recognition in that sport. He was an early recipient of a Gold Award in the Duke of Edinburgh's Scheme and this was presented to Stewart by the Duke himself. In due course, he was appointed Head Boy of the school in 1961.

On qualification in 1966, Stewart was soon recruited to the Padihan Road Practice in Burnley and it was there that he spent his dental career building up a large core of loyal and devoted patients. Like the early javelin thrower, Stewart was a direct character, forceful and to the point yet like many large men, a very tolerant person. He was a strong and firm member of the BDA. Elected as secretary of the Burnley section and later its chairman he became very active at branch level as meetings secretary. He was eventually honoured as our branch president. More recently, Stewart was elected chairman of the recently formed East Lancs LDC, and in this role was instrumental in ensuring good relations between the profession and the new East Lancashire Health Authority.

Stewart's first wife Ann had been theatre sister at the Dental Unit at Withington Hospital. Their only child Susy was still an infant when Ann developed a debilitating condition and died leaving Stewart a one parent family with a daughter four years old. Fortunately, before too long Stewart met Beryl and as Susy asked Beryl if she would be her new mummy the marriage was not long delayed. Beryl herself has become a well-known figure at social gatherings in the dental world.

Stewart continued his sporting activities in Burnley and District and as may be expected was a keen Rotarian being a past president of the Burnley Club. With Beryl's help Stewart had also created a very fine garden much admired by neighbours and colleagues who lived in the vicinity. Arthritis in his hands had forced a premature retirement in May 1999. By September that year his terminal illness had been diagnosed. Stewart died on the 8th October 2000.

Patients, friends and colleagues too numerous to count paid their last respects and we all offer our deepest sympathy to Beryl and Susy at such an untimely loss of a dear husband and father.

G. F. G.

DEATH NOTICE

Mr Colin Cooke, past President of the BDA between 1970-71 passed away on 27th February 2001.

A practitioner and lecturer in dental surgery at Manchester, Colin Cooke was appointed in 1948 to the Board of Governors of the United Teaching Hospitals. In 1948 he received an FDS by election. He belonged to the Manchester Medical and the Manchester Medico-Legal Societies, and served on the Representative Board.