Carol Robinson died in King's College Hospital on 13 April after a long illness. Aged just 50, she bequeathed her estate to the BDA Benevolent Fund.

Born and educated in Croydon, Carol's career ambition from a very early age was dentistry. A keen and able sportswoman and amateur thespian, she fitted an active social life around her studies, and despite her school's attempt to divert her into nursing, she persisted with her dental ambitions and entered King's College Hospital Dental School in 1973, qualifying BDS in 1977.

An early postgraduate interest in maxillofacial surgery took her to House Officer posts at the Westminster Hospital and then St Thomas'. She progressed on to the Royal United Hospital at Bath as Senior House Officer before the start of her long illness precipitated a move to Bournemouth and a career in Community Dentistry. Later, moving back to her roots, she spent time in general practice and then community dentistry in Lambeth before illness forced her to give up the profession she loved.

She was delighted to return to King's (who told her 'once a King's dentist, always a King's dentist') on the KITS scheme until she could no longer work. Her love of learning stayed with her all her life; she gained the Diploma in Forensic Dentistry, graduated from Birkbeck College with a BA in History in 2002, took up computing with enthusiasm and had been accepted to start a law degree. Even in the face of major surgery she remained optimistic about her plans to complete the course.

She will be remembered for her indomitable spirit, love of life, long phone calls, cats and Crystal Palace FC!

Despite the many problems she faced in her life, Carol was always an enthusiastic supporter of her dental friends' careers and a keen converser on all things dental. In her last years she was a tireless and faithful worker for the Croham Road Baptist Church, whose members in turn supported her magnificently during her final illness. She will be remembered by the many friends who attended her funeral for her indomitable spirit, love of life, long phone calls, cats and Crystal Palace FC!