Professor James Leslie Hardwick died on 12 November 2004 at the age of 91. Educated at Rugby school, he was one of the first people to graduate with a BDS from Birmingham University Dental School.

Leslie was in general practice until the outbreak of the Second World War, when he joined the Army Dental Corps and soon became a surgical specialist serving in India and Burma. At the end of the war, he joined the staff of the Birmingham Dental School and became interested in children's dentistry. He was one of the first academics to teach preventive dentistry in the UK.

In 1960 he took up the chair of preventive dentistry at The Turner Dental School in Manchester, heading the department of children's dentistry and orthodontics. He not only helped to build a strong teaching programme in children's dentistry but also encouraged the formation of the North West group of the British Society for Paediatric Dentistry. He instituted a strong research programme in this speciality and carried out important research into the action and metabolism of fluoride. He had a long association with ORCA and became its secretary general and president.

He travelled widely, lecturing in many European countries and advising on dental education in places such as Nigeria, Kenya and Indonesia, and was active in the link between Manchester and Surabaya dental schools.

He guided many postgraduate students from all over the world, who appreciated his encouragement and kindness.

Leslie will be remembered as a pioneer of children's dentistry and for the extensive research that he instigated and carried out.

Leslie will be remembered as a pioneer of children's dentistry (alongside Geoffrey Slack, Gerry Winter and Max Horsenell) and for the extensive research that he instigated and carried out.

He is survived by his wife, Eileen, and four children.