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In my Presidential Address last year, I summoned up the ghost of our first President Sir John Tomes and then, after seeking his opinion on modern dentistry and the BDA, I made him disappear back into his portrait.

My main task today, metaphorically speaking at any rate, is to make myself disappear and leave the stage to our incoming President Sue Greening. Before I do that, however, may I say a few words about my year as your President.

I have visited Branches, Sections and Groups; I have attended Young Dentists and Student Conferences; I have been all over the UK, from Poole to Dundee, from Norwich to Belfast and from Newcastle to Swansea. I have presented lectures, given toasts, made speeches and eaten a lot of chicken dinners; I have even 'Addressed the Haggis' at a Burns Ceilidh in, of all places, Stockton on Tees. I have visited members in every country of the UK and everywhere, without exception, the welcome and hospitality has been warm and unstinting.

'It's been a difficult year for our members in whichever setting they work...'

It's been a difficult year for our members in whichever setting they work, whether it be General Practice, Hospital, Community or Academia; but dentists are nothing if not resilient and, if you don't know it already, take it from me, they certainly know how to enjoy themselves.

So to all the colleagues and their friends and families, who looked after Irene and me so well and so generously, my sincere thanks and appreciation. You have all made me very proud to be the President of an association which has as members such kind, friendly and sociable people.

My thanks also to the BDA staff who have helped and 'managed' the President in the last year and in particular to Kerry Dalton. Kerry's organisational skills are awesome and she does it all with such great good humour. Kerry, thank you very much indeed.

And last, but of course not least, thanks to Irene, whose forbearance at hearing me give yet another speech has surely been above and beyond the call of any wife's duty.

Our incoming President, Sue Greening, is only the third women ever to be President of the BDA. She joins the select and very illustrious duo of Lillian Lindsay and Dame Margaret Seward and, if I may be so ungallant as to comment on a lady's age, she will I believe be the youngest ever President of the Association.

I would like to wish Sue all the best for her Presidential year. I am sure she will have a memorable and enjoyable time as President. I am also sure that she will make a marvellous ambassador for the Association.

Finally, my thanks to the members of the BDA for giving me the immense honour of being President of the Association. It has been hard work but it has been a delight from start to finish. May our Association and its members grow and prosper, and through them, may the Art, Science and Ethics of dentistry continue to flourish.