Celia Jane Bishop passed away on 27 October 2003 following a very brave struggle against a rare form of appendix cancer, just a week short of her 44th birthday.

Educated at Stourbridge High School for Girls and King Edwards School in Stourbridge, Celia went on to graduate from Liverpool University in 1982, starting her clinical career with the community dental service in Luton on the London University Vocational Training Scheme. She was the joint recipient of the Desmond Greer Walker Prize in 1983. In the same year she married Edward Ball, whom she had met while both were studying at Liverpool Dental School. They spent two years abroad in Brunei where Edward was serving with the Royal Navy and it was here she had her first taste of general practice working in a small busy Chinese practice. On her return she spent the rest of her career in general practice.

Celia managed to juggle a hectic family life with part time working in a busy dental practice in Lee-on-the-Solent...

There was also a brief spell of military life as a Captain in the RADC (TA) but this was interrupted by the birth of her first child. Celia managed to juggle a hectic family life with part time working in a busy dental practice in Lee-on-the-Solent, right up to the time of her illness. Cancer was diagnosed in May 2002 and she underwent two major operations followed by three courses of chemotherapy that she endured with great courage, never losing her smile or sense of humour.

Celia enjoyed life to the full with a wide circle of friends, but it was her family who occupied most of her spare time. An excellent swimmer, she managed a mile a day until a few weeks before her death.

She will be sadly missed by all her many patients, friends and colleagues. Celia was a caring, kind and thoughtful dentist and she leaves behind her loving family, husband Ed and children Jessica, Rachel, Harry and Alice.