Colin Keith Maxwell Imrie

Colin Imrie was born in South Wales and educated at the Cathedral School at Llandaff, near Cardiff, and later at Taunton School.

On completion of his education Colin was commissioned into the Indian Army and served for five years on the North West Frontier, years which included the time of partition.

It was during this time that he forged firm friendships with men of differing religious faiths – Christian, Muslim and Hindu – so characteristic of Colin's tolerance of the beliefs of others. Last year he revisited Pakistan and was very warmly welcomed by members of his old regiment and given such a reception that he regarded that holiday as one of the highlights of his life.

After leaving the services he considered a career in agriculture and worked for a time on the Isle of Arran in the Firth of Clyde, but finally decided upon dentistry and entered Leeds Dental School. It was during his time there that he met his wife Jean who was reading medicine. They married in 1953 in North Lincolnshire – an event which Colin often proclaimed as 'the best day's work I ever did'.

Colin established a dental practice in the town of Barnoldswick... which expanded steadily, eventually serving over 7,000 patients.

Following graduation, Colin established a dental practice in the town of Barnoldswick, then part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, which expanded steadily, eventually serving over 7,000 patients. As well as becoming a representative on the Local Dental Committee, he was also an active member of the Royal British Legion, becoming president of the Barnoldswick branch and finally appointed Life Vice President.

After retiring from this practice in 1985 Colin started a part-time one in Gargrave, North Yorkshire and worked there until retiring full time in 1990. Still ever active in retirement, he studied and gained a BA degree from the Open University.

Moving home to the village of Long Preston, North Yorkshire, Colin and Jean settled to fifteen very happy years in the community they found there.

Colin died suddenly and unexpectedly on February 14th 2002 aged 76. At a service in the village church of Long Preston the building was packed with friends, colleagues and neighbours coming together to celebrate a full life, as well as express their sympathy to his wife Jean and daughters Anne, Jill and Heather on their loss of a loving husband and father.

Edward Lowery

John Michael Castle

John Castle died suddenly on 14 October 2001 while he was fishing on the River Lune, not far from his home near Carnforth, Lancashire. He was 63 and had retired from dentistry two years previously. He was born in Cartmel in the Lake District, where he spent his childhood enjoying the South Lakeland countryside and especially fly-fishing, which became his lifelong and passionate interest. After attending Ellesmere College, he studied dentistry at Liverpool University and qualified in 1962.

Following qualification, he joined a dental practice in Birkenhead and then in 1969 he moved to a practice in Lancaster where he worked for the rest of his professional life.

He practised both in Lancaster and at a branch surgery in Bentham, North Yorkshire. John was especially appreciated by his patients for the interest he showed in them as individuals, his good humour and his professional and sympathetic manner. He was well-respected by his professional colleagues and became involved with the running of the Lancaster and Morecambe BDA Section. He was secretary in 1974 and chairman in 1975.

John was renowned for the enthusiasm, dedication and thoroughness he applied to any task he undertook...

John was renowned for the enthusiasm, dedication and thoroughness he applied to any task he undertook and this particulaly benefited the Section in the early 1980s, when he served as secretary for a second time: the Section had started to fall into decline, but John, with his skills and commitment, helped to build it up into an active and well supported organisation once again.

It was not just fishing itself which absorbed John's interest, but he also had a detailed knowledge of the biology and needs of salmon, which he applied to its conservation and protection wherever he could. His knowledge and views were highly respected and he became an adviser to the North Atlantic Salmon Fund and a national Council member of the Salmon and Trout Association. Locally he served as the Vice Chairman of the Lune and Wyre Fishery and produced their annual reports.

His advice was sought by some of the world's leading fish conservationists including Iceland's Orri Vigfusson, who has been instrumental in efforts to save the Atlantic salmon. Apart from fishing, he had interests in history, art and literature. He and his wife, Jane, especially enjoyed their trip to St Petersburg, as the Romanov period was one of John's many specialities.

John Castle is survived by Jane, whom he married in 1965, their two children, Katherine and Alexander and two grandchildren. His premature and unexpected death has shocked his family and friends and he will be greatly missed by them all.

Keith Woods