The East Lancs and East Cheshire Branch of the BDA has lost one of its most diligent, committed members with the untimely death on 11 July of Pam Watson at the age of 61 years.

Pamela Lynn Hodson was a native of the North Manchester area. She attended Stand Grammar School and then went on to the Manchester University Dental School, qualifying as a prize winner in 1966. The graduates of that year continue to meet on a regular basis and their condolences were expressed at the 40th anniversary dinner held just five days before her funeral.

After a short period as an associate in Cumbernauld, Pam returned with her husband Robert to the Bury area. Her daughters Fiona and Sarah were born and in between times Pam worked on a part-time basis in several local practices. For some eight years she was an associate in Geoff Wood's practice in Rossendale working alongside Bill Duncalf.

In 1977 Pam was able to open her own practice in Ramsbottom, where in 1996 she had the immense satisfaction of being Vocational Trainer to her own daughter Sarah who continues to practice there as the principal. Pam was soon on the committee of the Burnley Section of the BDA and was eventually elected Chair. This gave her a seat on the Branch Council where she served as President and later, the first Chair. Always courteous, Pam had firm views on the dento-political issues of the day and was well able to express both her own point of view and that of the meeting as a whole. This was not always easy as there were several senior national BDA figures on Branch Council at that time.

Pam also chaired the Local Emergency Dental Service, was a Dental Practice Adviser and served as a Demonstrator in the Conservation Department of the Manchester Dental School.

She always managed to balance the calls of family and practice.

Although Pam had an immense commitment to her profession she always managed to balance the calls of family and practice. She had a great interest in good food and fine wines and a weakness for high performance quality motor cars. Family skiing holidays and touring in France were other forms of relaxation.

It was six years ago that Pam's final illness was diagnosed. She had a very positive and optimistic attitude to her surgery and chemotherapy, and insisted that whenever possible she would continue with her career and family commitments. With considerable difficulty she attended the AGM of the Burnley section in March this year. She was an example to us all.

We extend her colleagues' sympathy to her husband Robert, her daughters Fiona and Sarah and the four grandchildren, and also to her parents Fred and Edith who have lost their only child.