1918–2013

Rankine, never known to us as Edward, died on 7 June in Edinburgh, after a short illness. With his passing the profession has lost one of the few dentists who had experience of dentistry prior to the inception of the NHS and the transformation of practice consequent to the arrival of 'free dentistry'.

Rankine was born in Paisley on 5 October 1918, in the closing days of WWl, the son of a dentist who had started practice in 1900. After early education at Glasgow High School, he entered Glasgow Dental Hospital and School. On the outbreak of WW2, he left to join the Tank Corps, but soon was returned to complete his dental studies and graduated in 1942. Returning to the services, now in the Royal Army Dental Corps, he was posted to India. When he returned home, he succeeded his father in the Paisley practice.

He soon took an active interest in BDA affairs, which were now enmeshed with the new regulatory authority, something of a political football, and the butt of music-hall jokes. Rankine brought great negotiating skill and cautious advice to all the Association committees of which he was a member, and as Chairman, always sought settlements in the best interest of dentists, with fairness to those who ultimately paid for our services – the patients.

Having been appointed Scottish Secretary of the Association, he was called to take on the duties of National Secretary at short notice. This entailed a long commuting journey and much time away from home. He retired in 1986.

Such a full professional career might leave ordinary men only with time for rest but for Rankine his family was always his first priority. His marriage to Betty and their children, Anne and Scott, held pride of place. After Betty's death, he married Elspeth, and he added the role of step-father to Marie, Sandy and Marj.

Fishing holidays in the North of Scotland had been a feature of childhood life that endured to the end; as did his enthusiasm for golf, gardening and bridge. Moving home from Paisley to Strathaven introduced him to rural life, farming affairs and the delights of attending the local auction market. After Elspeth's death in 2008 he continued to live on his own, welcoming many visitors.

We can but acknowledge his great contribution to making our Association what it has become and express our sympathy to all his family, children, and grandchildren, of whom two, Vicky and Alastair (McGill), continue the family tradition in practising dentistry. I, and my family, thought he would go on forever.