Ladies and Gentlemen, Members of the BDA, Colleagues and Friends, I have, somewhat reluctantly, come to the end of what has been, without doubt, the most exciting and fulfilling year of my professional life. The excitement has emanated from the privileged task of travelling world-wide to fulfil the many kind invitations I have received to visit dental associations and branches abroad and at home, and at the same time, carrying out what was feasible of my job at Queens University Belfast Dental School. Throughout my hectic travels I have been keenly aware of the great privilege and honour which was bestowed on me by the BDA and I thank them for their unfailing support for myself and for my wife Eileen. I reiterate my sincere thanks to the Northern Ireland Branch of the BDA whose loyalty and trust permitted me to carry out this wonderful ambassadorial role. Had it not been for the generosity of Queens University Belfast and my colleagues at the Dental School, I could not have contemplated or, indeed, carried out my presidential duties.

At the culmination of this wonderful year I reflect with interest on the diversity of the presidential role: extending from light-hearted presentations to undergraduates in the dental schools accentuating the importance of BDA membership, to scientific presentations to various dental associations including the Hong Kong Dental Association and a seminar and lecture to The Prince Philip Dental School, and proposing toasts to many vibrant branches of the BDA in the UK. I must say that during the year I have found that colleagues' expectations of the president as the profession's ambassador both nationally and internationally are very high and this reflects directly the great esteem in which the BDA is held throughout the world. I am aware of the considerable demands undertaken as a result of these expectations, but it has been a great personal joy to have taken part in the social and scientific aspects of dental associations' programmes at home and abroad; meeting colleagues and friends, exchanging professional views, enjoying hospitality at many branch dinners and dances and naturally, of course, an occasional party! I thank all my colleagues at home and abroad for all their generosity, wonderful friendship and hospitality — it has been a privilege and great fun.

In my Presidential Address, and again at the New Year, I alluded to the significant changes taking place in dentistry particularly in the primary care sector. Options for Change predictably will take much longer than a short presidential year to come to fruition and, indeed, I have to ask — in that time, are the public any nearer to getting what they are entitled to — finding quality dental care at a price which they can afford on their doorstep. I am not aware of any optimism that the Government is going to provide increased NHS resource to solve the present problems of supplying a quality NHS service for those who require it.

Furthermore, I am certain that undergraduate dental education is under great pressure to deliver quality education at grass roots level to the required GDC standards. Academic recruitment is at an all time low as cited in my New Year Address, this is a sad reflection of the Government's poor investment in the universities described in the Economist, November 16 2002 'The Ruin of British Universities' and dentistry is by no means an exception, perhaps the rule. This can only be corrected by a government and university strategy to increase funding for the undergraduate schools investing in the future of quality undergraduate education.

How forward looking, proactive and successful the BDA is through its Chief Executive, Executive Board, and Rep Body...

On a more optimistic note, as I have been privileged to be deeply involved in the boiler house of the BDA for the past year — I have realised how forward looking, proactive and successful the BDA is through its Chief Executive, Executive Board, and Rep Body in responding successfully to issues that have arisen both through the Government and media. We have all applauded the successful recruitment drive where the profession has voted with its feet to achieve a record membership of 21,000 plus, reflecting their trust in an organisation that supports them with a superb service. The Executive have worked hard and successfully in supporting Options for Change, and responding to the Audit Commission report on dentistry and the Office of Fair Trading report on the private dental market. The overall success of the organisation is also reflected in the success of its publications, the BDJ and the BDA News now at record levels. These successes demand that every dentist should be proud to be a member of the BDA and we are working to achieve that!

The BDA is in good hands and equally good heart, and I wish to reiterate my sincere thanks to the Events Working Group and members of staff for their robust and efficient efforts on my behalf throughout the year. To Karen Robinson for all her help in organising my programme, and my secretary at the Dental School, Sally Meenan, without whom I could not have achieved the demands of a very busy year. Finally, but most certainly not least, my heartfelt thanks to my wife Eileen for all her hard work and support of myself and the Association.

To conclude, it is my great pleasure to return to the 2003 conference in Manchester 'Embracing Change' and induct my successor Ian McIntyre who qualified from Durham University following the award of an RAF Undergraduate Cadetship. Ian's career achieved meteoric rise through the RAF to the exalted position of Air Vice-Marshall in February 1997. Retiring from the RAF he succeeded to the post of Consultant in Dental Public Health in the Solihull and Warwickshire Dental Health Authorities. Ian has also been a great supporter of the BDA and, more recently, Chairman of the Benevolent Fund. He has been a tower of strength to the profession and has lectured extensively at home and abroad in his subject. It therefore gives me the greatest possible pleasure to induce Ian McIntyre as the 117th President of the BDA and congratulate him and wish him and his charming wife, Joan, a successful and enjoyable year.