Friends and colleagues representing all areas of his career gathered at the BDA to mark the retirement of Professor Stanley Gelbier after 33 years as Deputy and Honorary Curator of the BDA Museum.

Professor Stanley Gelbier (left) with Rachel Bairsto (right)

The museum celebrated the contribution made by Professor Stanley Gelbier at an event on 4 November, where BDA President Nairn Wilson spoke of Professor Gelbier's numerous honours and awards and enormous contribution to dental history before presenting Professor Gelbier with a specially commissioned print of the BDA to mark the museum's eightieth birthday.

The museum also launched the Gelbier Acquisition and Conservation Fund in his honour. The new fund aims to help to raise money to purchase new and historically important acquisitions for the museum collection for the enjoyment of future generations. Rachel Bairsto, Head of Museum Services, said: 'We are thrilled to be able to honour Stanley and his contribution to the BDA Museum this evening by launching this fund. Your donations will ensure that the museum can acquire important works and conserve them. We are very sad to see Stanley go but wish him all the best in his well-earned retirement.'

Guests at the event enjoyed the opportunity to test the museum's new audioguide. Visitors can now explore the museum collection by listening to extracts from interviews collected by the John McLean archive: a living history of dentistry. Whilst looking at bone handled toothbrushes visitors can listen to Robin Addis talking about the manufacture of toothbrushes, dental technicians talking about making vulcanite dentures in the 1950s and many more fascinating, entertaining and revealing insights.

Also on display at the event was a rare Victorian oil painting of a blacksmith dental extraction scene which the museum would like to acquire to complement its existing art collection. The museum needs £2,300 (including conservation) to acquire this work.

To help the museum acquire the work, please visit www.bda.org/gelbierfund.