1946-2024

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It is with great sadness that we report the death of Carolyn Taylor in March 2024 after a short illness. Carolyn was born in Grimsby and trained in Sheffield. After qualifying in 1971, she worked in general dental practice before taking a research and training post at the University of Amsterdam.

On her return to the UK in 1979, Carolyn joined the Community Dental Service in Grimsby. She gained an MSc in Dental Public Health in 1983. Then in 1990, she became Assistant Clinical Director for King's College Hospital NHS Trust and Honorary Lecturer at GKT Dental Institute. In addition to her role, she was also involved in education, training and epidemiology. She was very keen to promote the roles of allied dental professionals and was involved in their education.

Carolyn was very active in the BDA, having been on Council for the Yorkshire and Metropolitan Branches. She also served on the Representative Board and the Ethics Committee. However, she will be best remembered for her service in Community Dentistry to improve care for the disadvantaged and vulnerable in society. This was recognised by the BDA CDS Group, of which she was President in 2002. Her contribution to the BDA was recognised by the honour of Life Membership in 2005.

In addition to all her work in the dental profession, Carolyn became a Justice of the Peace in1988 and a Presiding Justice in 1997, initially in Grimsby then in central London and latterly in the Isle of Wight. Her interest in law led her to study for an LLM from Cardiff University. In retirement, she spent her time between the Isle of Wight and her house in France always accompanied by her beloved border collies.

Helen Pailthorpe and Brian Hopkin