1946-2023

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Colonel Frank Edwin Holloway died on 9 May 2023 after a long struggle with progressive supranuclear palsy borne with courage and fortitude. Born on 6 March 1946 in Stoke-on-Trent, and after passing the 11+ examination, Frank attended St Joseph's College, Stoke.

Frank trained at the University of Bristol dental school qualifying in 1966. He undertook two house jobs in Bristol Royal Infirmary before going into general practice in Bristol for two years. He then succumbed to the siren call of the big city and spent another two years working in Carnaby Street where he treated stars from the BBC and the London Palladium which were both close by.

Tiring of London and unimpressed with wealth and private practice, he saw an advertisement for dentists to work with the US Army in Bavaria. He was successful with his application and worked from 1975-1978 in Augsburg. There was no career advancement in the post and so he applied for a short service commission in the Royal Army Dental Corps (RADC) which he was awarded and spent the majority of the remainder of his practising career in the Army. He retired from the Army in 2006 holding the rank of Colonel. He was Commandant RADC and had been appointed Queen's Honorary Dental Surgeon in 2002. His final five years of dental practice were spent as a civilian dental surgeon treating Army personnel in Bordon.

During his military career, he served all over the world, from Benbecula to Cyprus and spent much time in Germany in various locations. He was selected for the prestigious exchange posting to the US Army Dental Corps in 1983 where he served for two years in El Paso, Texas.

Shortly after his return from the US, he was selected to undertake an MSc in restorative dentistry at the Eastman Dental Institute. He was then appointed as an adviser in restorative dentistry in Germany where he was seen as being an outstanding operative dentist by the dental technicians, which is no mean feat. He was also highly respected for giving excellent advice, without condescension, to his colleagues. Afterwards, he held a similar post in Aldershot.

After his return to England, Frank became involved with the Armed Forces Group of the British Dental Association, where his financial expertise was utilised and led him to become involved with the British Medical Association in presenting the case for Service Doctors' and Dentists' pay to the Armed Forces Pay Review Body. In this role, he was extremely successful.

In 2012, Frank was elected President of the BDA, a huge honour within the profession. Frank was a highly intelligent, well-read man who was greatly respected as a mentor and the word 'gentleman' has often been applied to him. He was calm and understated in demeanour and never lost his temper, which is a rare attribute in military circles.

He loved playing golf and was handicap secretary of his Club. However, it did vex him that he found the sport much more difficult than operative dentistry. He was an excellent amateur investor on the stock exchange, enjoyed completing crossword puzzles of all types and his general knowledge was put to good use as a member of a pub quiz team.

During his career, Frank was unfailingly supported by his wife Carole who lovingly cared for him during his illness. He was a gentle and considerate person and a generous father and grandfather with a clear sense of what is right and honourable. He was highly and widely respected in his professional work for his skills and his sense of duty. A true gentleman.

Chris James