1923–2018

Edgar was born in Rochdale into a farming family who moved to Lancaster when he was young. After attending Lancaster Royal Grammar School he was apprenticed to a pharmacist before his call up to serve in the Royal Navy. His twenty-first birthday was on watch at Scapa Flow. He was trained to service the electrics of the planes on aircraft carriers and he completed his service as a Chief Petty Officer. Edgar attended Leeds University Dental School and in that year the students were all ex-servicemen, save one straight from school. He was in a select few who went through the course with no resits.

In 1949 Edgar married Betty Clark, a childhood friend who was a nursing sister at Leeds General Infirmary. He managed an allotment to supplement meagre income and rations. On qualification he was a house surgeon at Leeds Dental Hospital and then joined the School Dental Service and served at Skipton and Settle. In 1952–55, JW Sandham, whose practice the schoolboy Edgar attended, had a series of prolonged illnesses and the practice was in a desperate plight. Edgar wanted to help and he was allowed to leave the school dental service early. He quickly restored the wellbeing of the practice and as well as running the practice, he acquired the job of secretary of Lancaster and Morecambe BDA and also Sandham's membership of the Executive Council. His drive, attractive personality and common sense quickly made him a senior member of this committee and soon he became a long-serving vice-chairman (25+ years). By regulation the chairman was a lay person. Edgar was well respected by members and senior staff of the council and Lancashire practitioners. As President of the North Western Branch he welcomed Professor and Mrs Martin Rushton to our annual dinner and dance.

Edgar retired from practice in 1978 to serve in the school service again where he enjoyed treating children. He retired from clinical practice in 1983. His happiest times were probably spent raising his young family at Fluke Hall, Pilling, with ponies, gardening and amateur radio hamming. Edgar and Betty were a devoted couple and Edgar was bereft at her death in 2000. Their children are Ruth, who emigrated to Alberta, Helen, who inherited his public service gene and became mayor of Lancaster in 2007, Rachel, who is a food scientist, and Robert, who runs a substantial furniture manufactory. He has ten grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. The last years became difficult. He became totally blind and had mobility problems, but his mind was as sharp as a razor and his memory crystal clear. May he rest in peace.