Professor Malcolm (Tony) Naylor, a former scientific editor of the BDJ, died on April 15, aged 82. Professor Naylor, who made a major contribution to periodontology research at Guy's Hospital, was appointed scientific editor in 1961 and served under three editors, an experience he described in 2004 (British Dental Journal 2004; 197: 725–734). He was head of periodontology and preventive dentistry at Guy's Hospital dental school from 1980-1991. An obituary will be included in a future issue of BDJ.