Mike Mills-Davies passed away suddenly on 26 August 2006 aged 58 years.

Educated at Dynevor School in Swansea, Mike qualified in 1972 in Cardiff. Following an associateship in Tirduenaw in Swansea, Mike bought a practice in Clydach in the lower Swansea Valley. He worked there for more than 30 years and also ran a second practice in Pontardawe during that time. He was an enthusiastic GDP, loved his chosen profession and cared for his patients with immense dedication. He developed an interest in orthodontics through clinical attachments at the Orthodontic Department at Morriston Hospital.

Mike worked tirelessly for the profession in South-West Wales. He became a member of West Glamorgan Local Dental Committee in 1978 and was its Chairman for 10 years from 1988 until 1998. He was a member of the West Glamorgan FPC and subsequently the West Glamorgan FHSA. He represented the LDC on the West Glamorgan Dental Advisory Committee and latterly on the Morgannwg District Dental Committee. He attended numerous LDC Conferences and always spoke with passion, wit and eloquence.

During his chairmanship of the LDC Mike oversaw the start of the new contract in the early 1990s. He was a major player in setting up the Out of Hours service in the area. He was proud of the structure of the service and always referred to it as a 'Rolls-Royce Service'.

Mike became the first dental member of Neath Port Talbot LHB and was its first Clinical Governance Lead. He was well respected in LHB circles and this has contributed in no small measure to the excellent relationship that exists between that LHB and the profession locally.

Mike was a larger than life character with a wicked sense of humour.

Mike was a larger than life character with a wicked sense of humour. Those who knew him were always struck by his optimistic approach to everything that was put before him, particularly when his clinical career was cut short in 1999 following an horrific accidental eye injury and further to that in 2004 when he was diagnosed with a malignant tumour. He bore the subsequent surgery and numerous chemotherapy treatments without complaint and with unbelievable optimism until his final days.

Despite all this Mike's passing was nevertheless sudden. He was, despite his devotion of time to the profession, a loving and proud husband and father and a devoted family man. Our thoughts are with Lesley and his family and it is to them that we extend our deepest sympathies.