1922–2017

Lorna passed away peacefully after a CVA aged 95. Lorna was a keen member of the BDA and was the first Lady President of the Eastern Counties Branch of the BDA as well as a past Secretary and Chairman of the Cambridge section. She was born in Kenya, the only daughter of Sarah and Samuel Clark, who had emigrated from Northern Ireland to Nairobi to farm. In her own writings she recalls an idyllic early childhood enjoying the privileged upbringing in colonial Africa.

Tragically, her father died when she was 8 years old and Lorna and her mother returned to Northern Ireland. Once they were settled Lorna attended Londonderry High School as a boarder and her mother returned to Africa where she established a school for local children which enabled her to finance Lorna's education. Sadly, Lorna's mother died when she was 16 years old. Fortunately, Lorna became best friends with a girl called Mary Watson. The Watson family took Lorna under their wing and the two girls remained friends for the rest of their lives.

Lorna was accepted to study dentistry at Queen's University Belfast. It was very unusual for girls of her generation to go to university, let alone to study dentistry. Whilst she was a student she met Tony Knox, who was in the army. It was wartime and they married in 1942 when Lorna was 20 and Tony was 25. Lorna completed her training at the Eastman Dental Hospital and she and Tony set up home in Warwickshire, where in due course they had two daughters, Jill and Sally.

Lorna excelled as a working mother and practising dentist. She worked as a school dentist visiting schools in her small three-wheeler car. Later she established a private practice in Nuneaton which thrived for several years. Lorna came to live in Cambridge in 1967 where she worked in community dentistry until her retirement. Lorna's keen interest was in preventive dentistry; several years earlier she won a prize for an essay on preventive dentistry, which involved six weeks in the USA looking at their approach to prevention.

Lorna always kept very busy, joining the Ramblers Association, playing tennis and swimming. She loved to spend time with her family and her grandchildren when they were little and have them to stay in her home, and as they grew older she was always interested in their development and progress through life. She was proud of all they achieved and always keen to hear family news. In her retirement she remained active, playing bridge, visiting the theatre and singing in a choir, and was an active member of the U3A. She was an active supporter of several charities and a member of the Cambridge Humanist Group. Lorna will be sorely missed by her family and friends.