1972-2024

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It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I report the death of my dear friend and colleague, John.

Born in Halifax in 1972, John's father was a doctor. A path which John's older brother Thomas would follow, with John himself taking the route towards dentistry.

He qualified with his BDS from Manchester in 1997. He then completed his vocational training in Bulwell, Nottinghamshire and then took a house officer post in Leeds. He eventually settled for some time in Cheltenham, which is where I met him, and we quickly became good friends.

Dentistry took a back seat for a while as he returned to Manchester to look after his mother in her ill health, whom he cared for greatly until her passing. He returned to dentistry for one last stint in Quedgeley, Gloucestershire where we worked together before he retired from clinical dentistry in 2022. He did continue in roles working with the BDA Benevolent Fund, as a trustee and writing a four-part series into the history of the charity. He also acted as a field researcher in the North of England for a study into dentistry in the area.

Although a talented and empathetic practitioner with a dedication to NHS dentistry, John also had a world view outside of the profession. He gained an MA in Art History from SOAS in 2011, and over the years organised a number of gallery shows for local artists. He was also a poet and songwriter.

John was a unique personality who loved the ancient and arcane, but also had a passion for the modern world too, even if he didn't always want to admit it, developing his own mobile app: QUART. His love of art, literature, travel and philosophy underpinned with a quick, good-natured wit made for many long and enjoyable conversations for which he will be remembered by many.

Sadly, John was found dead of a suspected heart attack at his home in Kuzhimattam, India on 22 November which was a terrible shock to all who knew him as he had so many plans for the future.

John is survived by his brother Thomas. I know many of John's friends will be as saddened by this news as I am, and I send them and John's relative my condolences.

Blake Sanders