1950-2022

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Christopher James Bridle, familiarly known as Chris, was born on 20 February 1950 in Southampton, Hampshire. He began his career in dental technology in 1966 as an apprentice dental technician and qualified in 1971, the year the Orthodontic Technicians Association (OTA) was formed. Chris spent much of his career as an orthodontic technician, and later as the dental laboratory manager, at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester, now part of the Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Chris was an elected member of the OTA council for much of his career and was the association's chair for more than 20 years. In 2011, Chris hosted the 40th anniversary OTA conference at the Grand Harbour Hotel in Southampton; he retired as chair at this conference but continued to serve as a council member. One year later, outgoing OTA president Les Joffe recommended that an OTA council member should succeed him to serve as the ceremonial head of the Association (the position had previously been held exclusively by orthodontists since its inception in 1974). The OTA council unanimously agreed that Chris, as the association's longest serving chair, was the natural choice to serve as the first president to be elected from within the OTA membership; he fulfilled this role for a two-year term between 2012 and 2013. Following this, Chris remained as a member of the OTA council, where he served for periods as publicity officer and membership secretary, before finally stepping down in 2017. Chris also worked as a part-time lecturer in dental technology at Southampton Technical College (now Southampton City College).

Chris passed away peacefully in his sleep in Exeter, Devon, on Tuesday 10 May 2022 aged 72. He leaves behind his beloved wife Jill and will be greatly missed by his family, friends and former colleagues.

James Green