William James MacFarlane died on 22 January 2004. Born in Gretna Green in June 1919, Will's father was a builder and moved south, across the border to England with his young family when Will was aged four. Will's allegiances remained truly Scottish though whenever there was an international rugby or football match.

Will is therefore one of the few people to have served in all three branches of the armed sevices whilst at war.

Will was educated at Rotherham Grammar School and Sheffield University where he qualified in 1943 under Professor Roberts. He was encouraged to carry on his studies and add a medical qualification to his dental degree, but preferred to join the Royal Army Dental Corps on qualifying. He did not settle in the Army and was transferred to the Navy, but being hopelessly seasick he then moved to the RAF in 1944. Will is therefore one of the few people to have served in all three branches of the armed services whilst at war. With the RAF, Will was based in Devon and there he married his childhood sweetheart Dorothy. Even in the West Country war was not far away, and one night a transport flight full of young RAF personnel crashed with no survivors. Will was called in to the makeshift mortuary late at night to identify the many bodies of the aircrew he had been treating over the past few days.

On leaving the RAF in 1946 Will entered general dental practice in the centre of Rotherham and established a successful practice in the town. He had many a tale to tell of the queues along the High Street on the inauguration of the NHS in 1948. He was an excellent prosthodontist, much respected by his patients and continued working until retirement in 1979.

A keen golfer, a passion he shared with his wife Dot, Will was a long-term member at Lindrick. He also enjoyed travelling, with Majorca being his favourite relaxation destination.

Will and Dot's daughter Ruth followed in her father's footsteps and qualified from Sheffield University in 1976 and then worked in both the local CDS and Will's practice. Ruth married Erik whom she met at dental school during their studies and they both now live in Norway with Will's only grandchild Espen.

During Will's illness Dot nursed him devotedly throughout his final years.

A lifelong member of the BDA, Will was greatly admired by his friends and professional colleagues. He was a true gentleman and our sympathies go to Dot and their family.

Death notice

Mary Kay (née Brown) passed away on 27 April 2004. Born in Liverpool on 16 May 1922, she qualified from Liverpool around 1946 and went on to practice in Rotherham. Widow of Robert, she leaves three children: Peter, David and Ruth.