Francis Armstrong

1928-2021

Francis Armstrong, familiarly known as Frank, passed away peacefully, aged 92 years, in December surrounded by his loving and dearly loved family.

He completed his secondary school education at Morpeth Grammar School before studying dentistry at Newcastle Dental School. After graduating, he volunteered to complete a short-term commission in the Royal Air Force serving in the UK, Ceylon and Singapore. On demobilisation, he practised as an assistant before establishing his own practice in Blyth in 1957, remaining there until he retired in 1992.

He was happily married to school teacher Dorothy for 57 years, and was a devoted father to their three sons, Francis, Julian and Stephen. He stayed in close contact with his younger brother Keith and found much joy and pleasure in the company of his daughters-in-law and grandchildren. The family enjoyed many happy holidays in Europe until he discovered the magic of Walt Disney World during many unforgettable visits to Florida.

His many other activities included Presidencies of the University of Newcastle upon Tyne's Graduates' Association, the North of England Odontological Society and the Northern Counties Branch of the British Dental Association, of which he had already been honorary secretary. The University recognised his enormous contributions to dentistry by awarding him an honorary MDS in 1981.

Nationally, he served on the BDA's Representative Board and Council for more than 20 years including several as chairman of the Finance Committee. He will be remembered by many of his colleagues for his invaluable contributions, notably those which helped to provide the means to make retirement more comfortable. Dr Ranjit Johri of the BMA recalls that Frank's superb negotiating skills were based on hard facts and a sound grasp of financial details when the initial, rewarding NHS superannuation scheme was approved.

He resisted several overtures to nominate him as BDA President, an omission repaired somewhat by his election as one of only 12 Vice Presidents of whom just one now survives.

Frank was an enthusiastic member of Blyth Rotary Club for 52 years. He was a generous person who made many valuable contributions to needy causes. He regularly attended services and social gatherings at both the local Methodist and United Reformed Churches. He was a gentleman from whom his large number of friends learned a great deal. Our thoughts are with his family whose grief must be tempered by many fond memories of a remarkable man.

Gail Armstrong, Julian Armstrong and Stewart Blair