It was with a sense of shock that the profession in the West of Scotland learned of the sudden death of Robert (Bob) McKechnie, aged 79, on 23 June 2006 while on holiday with his wife Beth in France.

Educated at Kilmarnock Academy, Bob qualified in 1949 in Glasgow. After two years in the RAF Dental Branch, he became a Community Dental Officer in Bournemouth. Eighteen months later he returned to his ain folk and joined the Renfrew County Council CDO service. He really enjoyed treating children and specialised in orthodontics. In 1960 he was awarded the Diploma in Dental Orthopaedics. Bob's administrative skills were recognised when he was appointed Chief Dental Officer in 1961, and in 1969 was appointed County Orthodontist.

He showed great skill in balancing the needs and demands of the profession

In 1974 Bob became the first Chief Administrative Dental Officer of the Greater Glasgow Health Board. Modest and unassuming, he showed great skill in balancing the needs and demands of the various branches of the profession, and it was largely due to his diplomacy that excellent relations existed between the dental and medical professions in Glasgow.

The BDA was an important part of Bob's life. He acted as Secretary of the West of Scotland Branch from 1968-79 and was President of the Branch in 1979. He was a member of the Representative Board for 22 years and was elected to Council, on which he served for five years. He was Chairman of BDA Scottish Council from 1978-84. During this time he was a member of the Central Committee for Community Dental Services and was President of the British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry from 1986-87. In recognition of his services to the profession, Bob was awarded the FDS of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow in 1990 and in 1992 was granted Life Membership of the BDA. In 2001 the Association honoured him once more when he was elected a Fellow.

Bob retired formally in 1991, but his commitment to the profession continued — he was a member of the Benevolent Fund Executive and local representative of the Fund. He was instrumental in setting up — and organising — the seniors section of the Branch, wherein retired dentists meet every two months. An additional interest was the history of dentistry, and he was elected to be President of the Lindsay Society in 2007, a post he will now sadly not fulfil.

Bob was extremely well read, a keen gardener and DIY man. Very much a family man, he was very proud of his children and grandchildren. He is survived by Beth, his wife for 52 years, his daughters Sheila, Aileen and Fiona, and his four granddaughters, to whom we extend our sincere condolences. He will be remembered by all who knew him as a likeable, caring man — he was truly one of those rare individuals of whom it can be said that no-one ever said a bad word.