Gary Manning died on 18 January 2008 after a brave battle against cancer.

Typical of Gary's character, this illness was endured with optimism and a selfless interest in other people and their problems.

Gary was very much part of a dental family having a grandfather, father, mother, uncle and sister all in the dental profession. At school he was an all round scholar which gave him an early dilemma as to the best career path to follow. Luckily he decided to study dentistry. His ability to devour books on all subjects, particularly those concerned with people motivation, added to the very particular quality of the relationship he had with his patients and to the motivation of colleagues. He never blindly followed orthodox beliefs, always challenging and testing ideas to the full. In his professional life the needs of each patient were paramount. Gary was one of the first dentists to really move away from the NHS, successfully converting his practice in Fulham in 1983 following one of his many postgraduate trips to the States. He later moved his practice to Harley Street where it went from strength to strength.

Gary also had a strong sense of right and wrong and this drove him, even in the later stages of his illness, to pursue the truth about the ultimately unsuccessful treatment of his wife Jane who tragically died of oral cancer.

Her death in May 2002 at the age of 43 left an irreplaceable hole in his life and that of his two children.

It was at this stage that he moved his practice to nearby Thayer Street to join up with a larger group of clinicians. He developed a very close working relationship with all those there.

His sense of fun, the ability to make the best of all situations, and his thirst for knowledge will be only a few of the things his family and friends will miss. He was so proud of his children Henry and Lucy, currently studying for their A levels and GCSE exams. He had been able to travel with them and guide them to becoming young people who have clear and positive views on how they want to live their lives. He was a wonderful son to June, and brother and uncle to Nick and Julie's families. At 51 his life was too short, but he brought something special into the lives of all who knew and loved him.