Zbigniew jan tomiak

Zbigniew Jan Tomiak was born in Glogowa near Poznan in Western Poland on 14 August 1921 and came to Britain in 1940 having been through a series of amazing and sometimes harrowing events, as he escaped from German occupation to enlist in the Free Polish Army in France, which then retreated to Britain in the face of an overwhelming German advance. His port of embarkation was Liverpool and he was then transferred to Scotland to train as a cavalry officer and when he returned to Europe in July 1944 it was as a tank commander. He saw action in northern France and Belgium but was badly wounded in October of that year, after the tank that he was commanding, hit a land mine.

Invalided out of the army, he began dental studies in October 1945 at the Sutherland Dental School in Newcastle on Tyne, then part of the University of Durham. Qualifying in 1951 he started in private practice in Newcastle and latterly reducing this commitment to work for the local Health Authority. He eventually fully retired in 1991, staying in Newcastle.

He had many friends across all ages to whom he was very loyal. . .

He was a man of many and varied interests especially history, opera, fine wine and current affairs and to the end kept a keen interest in the world around him. He had many friends across all ages to whom he was very loyal and who delighted in his intellect, humour and middle European manners and chivalry; for a number he was a trusted confidant and father figure.

He married Evelyn Beck (who was also a dental student in Newcastle) in 1952 who unfortunately predeceased him in 1991, a blow from which he never fully recovered. They had four sons none of who entered the dental profession, though one became a doctor. He died in January 10th 2002 from disseminated stomach cancer after a relatively short demise, which he bore with characteristic stoicism and dignity. He is survived by his four sons and four grandchildren.

Richard Tomiak

Arthur francis weedon

Born in Brisbane, Arthur spent much of his childhood in Darwin in Australia's Northern Territory. With no secondary schools in Darwin, he and his brotheres were sent on a ten-day journey to be educated at Brisbane's Nudgee College, only returning once a year.

In time this made him a particularly warm and loving father and grandfather. He was proud of his children and grandchildren. Arthur studied dentistry as a mature student in Sydney, graduating in 1953. The following year he came to England. The six week journey to Genoa stayed in his memory, as did his subsequent trek across Italy and France not understanding a word anyone said. Arthur set up an NHS practice with fellow Australians in Clapham and later in Putney.

He pioneered the use of mobile surgeries for children with special needs.

In 1968 Arthur became Chief Dental Officer/Principal School Dental Officer of the London Borough of Wandsworth. Passionately interested in the care of children, he established an invaluable school screening service, pioneered the use of mobile surgeries for children with special needs and was an early employer of dental therapists. In 1974, Arthur became Area Dental Officer to the Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth Health Authority. He was not a 'banner waver', but led quietly from the front. He worked tirelessly until his retirement in 1987.

As honorary lecturer to the Royal Dental Hospital he was involved in training students, especially in outreach situations. He encouraged vocational training from the early days and helped staff to gain postgraduate qualification. Arthur himself was among the first recipients of the Diploma in Dental Public Health from the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

In 1977 Arthur was the founder secretary of the London Dental Fellowship, a group of dentists from all parts of the profession. In 1982 he became president.

While Arthur maintained an interest in dentistry, after retirement he relished more free time, enjoying travel, walking, theatre-going and studying archeology. He took over more household duties, became an excellent cook and encouraged his wife to develop their large family. They lived in Blackheath, an area particularly close to his heart, allowing easy access to London and all its treasures, the river and the countryside.

Arthur died suddenly following a massive stroke after a day spent watching Wimbledon and a good dinner with some of his favourite wine.

He is survived by his wife Hilary, sons Simon, Jonathan, Nicholas and Marcus, daughter, Anna and nine grandchildren.

Sandra Halford and Stanley Gelbier

DEATH NOTICES Kenneth Clokey, a Normandy veteran and one of the senior practising dental surgeons in England has died aged 81. Ulster born Mr Clokey studied medicine at Guys Hospital but his studies were curtailed by the outbreak of war in 1939. After the war Mr Clokey set up his own practice as a dental surgeon in Sanderstead, Surrey. He served on many NHS and dental committees and in 1995 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine. Judith Kramer, beloved daughter of Louis and Anita Kramer and brother of David, died aged 47 on 6th December 2001.