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For this issue, the cover celebrated is one of Stephen Hancocks' favourites, a pop art style cover published in Volume 233 Issue 10 (25 November 2022). It was part of a series of covers celebrating 150 years of the BDJ through visual storytelling, illustrated by Rachel Jackson. The pop art style on the cover from that year depicts a dentist in different colours and style - suggesting that variation represents diversification - this diversification representing the dentist as a person.

To mark Stephen's 20 years' service as Editor-in-Chief, the editorial team and cover artist decided to create a commemorative final cover featuring Stephen himself in pop art style as he passes on the BDJ baton. He smiles from behind a small mountain of journals while humbly accepting applause for his years of leadership.

Elsewhere in this issue of the BDJ, you can find Stephen's final editorial - exactly 20 years after the first; letters to the editor from members of the Editorial Board; and dedications within this news section from regular, recent authors published in the BDJ.

A farewell event for Stephen is due to be held in London later this month.