Richard James Bourne died on 28 September 2007 following a two-year battle with the asbestos-induced disease mesothelioma. He was 64. His only known exposure to asbestos was in the 'tunnels' of University College Hospital, London while a dental student, house surgeon and senior house officer.

Richard was educated at Marlborough College where he was a keen athlete, particularly with the javelin, and a representative player of Rugby fives. He began his dental studies at UCH in 1962, completing his degree in 1966. While at UCH he played fives and squash for the college and completed the Guinness inter-hospital London to Brighton walk on no fewer than four occasions. On one of these he was accompanied by Michael Emmerson OBE (again a UCH student and junior doctor) who was to become a distinguished microbiologist but now is also suffering from mesothelioma.

Following qualification, Richard became the Resident Dental Officer at UCH. He was later a senior house officer to Messrs 'Bill' Balderston and Cyril de Vere Green, but by the end of 1968 he decided to enter general dental practice. At first he worked as an associate in Fleet, Hampshire, but by 1971, together with his wife Roz, who was a dental student in the same year, opened his own practice a few miles away in Elstead, Surrey.

Richard, through his personality and professional skills, developed a very successful and popular practice. He continued to work in Elstead until 2005, when the disease from which he suffered forced him to take early retirement.

Up until close to his death, he continued playing fives, royal tennis and golf. He loved new 'toys'. He raced lawn mowers, drove Porsches, and was a fanatic with the latest photographic and hi-fi equipment. He travelled widely and his zest for life was transmitted to all those around him with a continuous stream of entertaining anecdotes.

He will be sadly missed by Roz, whom he married in August 1967, his four sons (and seven grandsons!) of whom he was very proud, and his many friends and patients.

Hugh Ogus, Rupert Bourne