Gordon Felix Holmes

Amongst our profession are those whose enthusiasm for patient care, continuing learning and living a full life is total. Climbing the greasy pole for management positions or engaging in dental politics is both anathema and a distraction. The main characteristic of such colleagues is their modesty. It seems that it is only at the end of their lives that their real worth to their family, our profession and the community is realised. Such a person was Gordon Holmes BDSc DPD FRACDS DOrthRSC DDPHRSC MGDSRCSEng who died on 30 October 2009. Over 300 attended to say goodbye to Gordon in Chelmsford Cathedral. The overwhelming majority had been his patients.

Born in Cairns, North Queensland in 1938 of humble pioneer stock he was evacuated when the Japanese threatened in 1942. After growing up with his mother living on a widow's pension he won a full scholarship to study dentistry at Brisbane University. Gordon came to England in 1965 and built up a large practice in Chelmsford where he employed and mentored scores of associates and trainees. Gordon never stopped learning. In addition to his BDSc he became a Fellow of the Royal Australian College and gained a DDPH St Andrews and both a DOrth and MGDS of the English Royal College. For the last Gordon was in the very first group of candidates who took the examination in 1979. This led to Gordon becoming one of the BSGDS's most active and popular members.

Gordon met Rebecca in 1960 and they had three children. Their daughter Catherine followed her father into Chelmsford practice and Peter moved back to Australia. Michael, his eldest son, said of him 'Many people say they have full lives - but our father really did. He flew fast jets, worked outback trains, lived on two continents and visited all seven. He skied, scuba-dived, bungee jumped at 60 and took surfing lessons at 65. He loved dentistry, and his patients, and continued to practise until the week before his death. We have received hundreds of touching messages from the associates with whom he worked, the nurses he employed, the patients he treated, the myriad of firm friends he made around the world'.