The death of Trevor Griffiths on 19 February 2006 deprived the profession and the community in which he lived of a man whose contributions to life it is difficult to fully account.

A former pupil of the Howardian High School in Cardiff, Trevor entered the newly founded Cardiff Dental School in its first intake of students and graduated in 1968. His early career took him to Swansea as an SHO, back to the Dental School where he was a lecturer in conservative dentistry and then to Gwent to work in the Community Dental Service as an SDO. In the mid 1970s Trevor established a practice in Cardigan.

During the 20 years that he ran his practice, before ill health forced his retirement, Trevor had become a champion for his local community. For many years he was both a town and county councillor, becoming Mayor of Cardigan in 2000.

He once appeared at BDA Welsh Council sporting a beard — a necessary prop for his next operatic appearance!

Trevor also had a lifelong passion for singing and sang with a number of local choirs and the operatic society. (He once appeared at BDA Welsh Council almost unrecognisable, sporting a beard — a necessary prop for his next operatic appearance!) He was also a member of a small brass ensemble in Cardigan where he played the clarinet and tuba.

Trevor also remained fully committed to the practice of NHS dentistry. His own postgraduate interests were wider than general dental practice and included the attainment of a Masters Degree in Law in 1989 and in Public Health in 1997. He had been awarded a DGDP and was a GDC visitor to the examination for membership of the Faculty of General Dental Practitioners.

There were also achievements in the UK arena. He became the GDC member from Wales in 1991; he made major contributions to the development of the 'Fitness to practise' procedures and was also the GDC nominee to the UK Inter-professional Group of which he was the Chair for a short time.

With all his wide interests Trevor did not neglect the profession in Wales, amongst whom he was very highly regarded. He was a member of the Welsh Dental Committee and later the Welsh Assembly Government and for a while was its Chair. He was an active member of the BDA in Wales and a co-opted member to BDA Welsh Council. In recognition of his services to dentistry the University of Wales awarded Trevor an Honorary Fellowship in 2002 and for his wider UK services he was made MBE in 2004.

His funeral service, held in the Chapel adjacent to his former practice in Cardigan and attended by over 600 people, heard tributes to him from both the profession and the local community, giving to each group glimpses of his life. The singing and the brass ensemble accompaniment during the service was a fitting tribute to the life of a man who made a difference.

To Meifis, his wife and to Elis, his son we send not only our condolences but also our thanks for sharing him with us. It was a privilege to have known Trevor.