Sarah Nicholas died on the 26 February 2014 aged 94.

She was born on 9 January 1920 in Dihewyd Cardiganshire in a house with no running water or electricity. Her mother had not been expecting twins, so Sarah's arrival 10 minutes after her sister was a surprise. Sadly her twin died at the age of 20 from congenital heart disease. Sarah's father was a congregational minister and the family spoke Welsh. They moved to North Devon when Sarah was six, and she started school speaking no English. She was, however, very bright, and was soon winning national essay writing competitions.

The family moved again to Market Lavington in Wiltshire, and Sarah attended Devizes Secondary School. At the age of only 16 she started at Bristol University Dental School, living in Clifton Hill House. She was the only woman in her year, and graduated in 1941 becoming the first woman to gain a dental degree – previous women had only taken the diploma. Her husband Peter was a fellow student and they married in 1945.

Sarah spent the war as the School Dental Officer for Bath and in 1947 started her own practice at Kings Road, Brislington. It was opened during one of the worst winters on record and business was slow, but she soon gained a reputation for excellent dentistry and patients came in numbers. The surgery still exists, with some patients being the fourth generation of the first.

Sadly Sarah was widowed in 1969, but she remained working at Kings Road until she was 60, when she sold the business. However, she continued as an associate one day a week to help a friend in Redland. She eventually retired in 1986, after 50 years in dentistry.

She spent her retirement travelling the world and tending her garden. She was still living independently and driving her car in her ninetieth year. In 2011 she moved to a home in Hitchin, and died of old age peacefully in her sleep.

She leaves a son, a daughter and four grandchildren.