Philip Lang (Phil to his friends and colleagues) passed away peacefully on March 10 after a long and brave battle with a terminal illness. He was 73.

While studying at Guy's Dental School he volunteered to fly to the Middle East with four fellow students in a converted RAF training aircraft. Phil had never flown before, while the inexperienced pilot had not flown beyond Paris. Phil emerged unruffled by their ensuing hair-raising misadventures that included two emergency landings. His determination to see things through was to be a hallmark in his subsequent professional life. He graduated in 1962.

Phil's thirst for knowledge remained unquenched throughout his long and successful years of practice in the Wantage area. He had particular interests in the temporomandibular joint and holistic dentistry and often attended courses in the USA. Integrity and sincerity were his credo both within and outside his profession. His enthusiasm for dentistry was infectious. He was secretary of the Mercia Branch of the BDA, president (and founder member) of the London Dental Fellowship and in 2002 was elected fellow of the Pierre Fauchard Honour Academy. A gentle and good humoured colleague, who never failed to help, he was also much respected within his community where he was chairman of his area Round Table and chairman of the Vale Divisional Youth Committee.

Phil is survived by his wife Rosemary whom he married in 1962 and with whom he shared his love of music. He passed away just four months before their golden wedding anniversary. They have a daughter Penny, a son Robert and four grandchildren to whom we extend our heartfelt condolences.