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Secretaries and chief executives of the British Dental Association (1879-2020) - part 2: dealings with the outside world

British Dental Journal volume 230, pages 97–105 (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

Part 2 shows how the association grew in size and stature as it met the needs of its members, who slowly moved from an era when patients paid for all the treatment, through some support from insurance societies to the major period of introduction of the NHS. This needed highly professional secretaries or chief executives, some of whom were not dentists.

Key points

  • Shows how the BDA arose from humble beginnings to become the leading dental organisation in the UK.

  • Demonstrates how, over the years, the dental secretaries changed from part-time amateurs to full-time professionals to keep up with the increased numbers of members and complexity of the work.

  • Reminds us of the changing homes for the association.

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References

  1. Report of Representative Board meeting on 1 November 1947. Supplement. Br Dent J 1947; 83: 40.

  2. BDA Notes and Comments. The Dental Secretary. Br Dent J 1947; 83: 83.

  3. Hitching L G. Obituary: William Goodwin Senior. Br Dent J 1969; 127: 98-99.

  4. Gelbier S. Chief Dental Officers for England and the development of dental services in the UK. Community Dent Health 2005; 22 (Suppl 1): 193-219.

  5. Donaldson J A. Obituary: William Goodwin Senior CBE, PhD, FDS. Br Dent J 1969; 127: 98.

  6. The Newsroom. Obituary: Wing Commander Alastair Mackie DFC, bomber pilot turned CND campaigner. The Scotsman (Edimburgh) 2018 June 20.

  7. Clarke V. Profile: The Association Secretary. Br Dent J 1979; 147: 23-24.

  8. Davis C. Interview: Introducing Keith Johnson: the new British Dental Association's secretary designate. Br Dent J 1983; 154: 388-389.

  9. Anon. Henry Noble Research Group Newsletter. October 2000.

  10. Murray B E. Obituary: Rankine Crerar. Br Dent J 2013; 215: 259.

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Acknowledgements

Helen Nield, Head of BDA Knowledge & Library Services, kindly located many resources. Much support was provided by Rachel Bairsto, Head of BDA Museum Services. Special thanks are due to Peter Ward, John Hunt, Ian Wylie, Peter Swiss, Dame Margaret Seward, Barbara Whitehouse, Roger Bettles, Stuart Robson, Geoff Garnett and Kerry Newstead for helping in so many ways.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Professor and Head of the Unit for the History of Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, King’s College London, UK

    Stanley Gelbier

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  1. Stanley Gelbier
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Correspondence to Stanley Gelbier.

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Gelbier, S. Secretaries and chief executives of the British Dental Association (1879-2020) - part 2: dealings with the outside world. Br Dent J 230, 97–105 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-020-2589-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-020-2589-0

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