1929–2025

Anne Dimmer, née Crofton Sleigh, was born on 1 August 1929 in Middlesborough, starting her long career as a nurse in London, where she progressed to become a theatre sister.

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Her experience persuaded her to study medicine, but it was difficult to become a doctor, so Anne decided to study dentistry, gaining her BDS from the London Hospital in 1962. Qualifying well, she was offered a lecturer's post at Manchester University, where she specialised in prosthodontics. At the time, this was an unusual specialism for a woman.

She loved teaching and progressed to become a Senior Lecturer at Queen's University and the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast in 1965, following election as FDS. The Troubles in Northern Ireland meant that she had various cases of brain injury and shattered jaws. At this time, she gained Fellowship of the Faculty of Dental Surgery.

In 1969, Anne moved to Scotland and ran the Inverarnan House Hotel while working part-time at the Glasgow Dental School.

After leaving Inverarnan, she moved to Renfrew, continuing to lecture in Glasgow, alongside general practice. Spending time in Glencoe with her daughter and son-in-law, Anne was persuaded by the villagers to establish dental surgeries there and in Kinlochleven from 1974, the latter moving to Mallaig in 1976.

Leaving Renfrew in 1979, Anne moved to London to continue teaching as a Lecturer in Conservative Dentistry at Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, commuting at the weekends to Glencoe to work at the dental surgeries.

In 1982, Anne moved to the King Khalid Dental School, Saudi Arabia, then the Prince Philip Dental School, Hong Kong in 1983 as Senior Lecturer. In 1991, she assisted in the recovery operation following the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines.

With plans to establish advanced dentistry in these countries, she became Associate Professor at the Prince of Songkla Dental School, Thailand in 1992, then the Fiji School of Medicine from 1996.

In 1999, Anne returned to Britain, working as a locum in the Isle of Man, London, Folkestone and Dover. She retired aged 84, having spent time as a marriage counsellor and a Writing and Editing Advisor. She died in Margate on 22 September 2025.

Anne was a very good cook; she loved her work and was wonderful with family and friends. She enjoyed good food, laughter and great company. She is very sadly missed.

Susan Nicolson