Diana Wincott, head of the centre for Dental Nursing Education and Training at Guy's, King's and St Thomas Dental Institute has retired after a career spanning 40 years.

A retirement party was held at Dulwich Art Gallery, London, where Professor Nairn Wilson presented her with a gift in honour of a lifetime dedicated to the dental nursing profession.

From her beginnings in general dental practice, Diana moved into dental nurse education where she was instrumental in developing and maintaining a leading role in dental nursing.

She held numerous roles within the Dental Nursing Association, including that of President, and was also the first dental nurse to chair the National Examining Board for Dental Nurses.

Diana was a member of numerous committees and an advisor to various dental organisations in the UK and overseas, and was awarded the MBE in 1998.