Sadly, following a stroke, George Fleming died on 24 April 2008 in York District Hospital aged 90. In North Yorkshire George was very widely respected, almost revered, following a lifelong commitment to the dental profession.

Born and educated in the Queens Park, a less advantaged area of Glasgow, he went to Glasgow Dental School, qualifying in 1939. He became Assistant School Dental Officer in the East Riding of Yorkshire before volunteering as a dental officer in the RAF in 1940. An eventful war career ensued including an interesting and exciting two years in France, Belgium and Germany (chronicled in the Dental Historian). Working in areas of death and destruction had a profound effect upon his personality and strengthened his already strong Christian commitment. He returned to the Yorkshire School Service in 1947, and after the establishment of the NHS he started a part time surgery in his home in York to see patients in the evenings and Saturdays.

George never lost his rich Glaswegian brogue and dialect which always caused considerable amusement to his friends as he was a member of the English Speaking Union. Both George and his wife Jean were devout members of the Presbyterian Church and George was a Church Elder.

However, it was within his profession that his commitment was most widely respected. He staunchly fought the cause of GDPs through several NHS reorganisations with courtesy yet dogged determination.

Sadly in his final year he was devastated to lose both his wife Jean (whom he married in 1942), and his son Douglas, aged 60. We extend our sympathies to his daughters Jan and Sheila, and his grandchildren of whom he was very proud.

George was the ultimate professional man: honest, ethical, concerned for his patients and a strong believer in maintaining highest professional standards. Always a private person with a streak of fierce independence he was loyal to his friends, colleagues and especially his family.

At his funeral, his close friend the minister paid an appropriate epitaph: 'He stood up for his profession, spoke up for his profession, was never ashamed to defend a principle, and was latterly critical of successive governments about their role in devolving dental care'.