NEWS & NOTES obituaries David Domenic Di Biase senior registrar training, he won the presti- British Orthodontic Society. He was the gious Chapman Prize. first Chairman of conference and followed In 1971, David was appointed Consultant as first Chairman of the newly-constituted Orthodontist at Southend General Hospital British Orthodontic Society and later as and Dental Tutor 1972–1976. He relin- President. His greatest asset as a chairman quished sessions at Southend in 1989 to was his conciliation ability, and without join the teaching staff in the orthodontic him there would be no BOS. He was also department at The Royal London Hospital. Secretary and President of the Essex branch David was an outstanding teacher, his of the BDA. own enthusiasm for the subject stimulating David also served on national organisa- his students, whether undergraduate or tions, being an elected member of the Gen- postgraduate. He had an inquisitive and eral Dental Council and he sat on the inventive mind, developing ideas such as Standing Dental Advisory Committee ‘The Southend Clasp’, which is now in wide Orthodontic Review Group. use throughout the specialty. His other par- He was recently awarded the Clifford Bal- ticular interest was in dento-facial lard Medal for Outstanding Services to orthopaedics for cleft neonates. As a clini- Orthodontics. cian, David was widely recognised for his In his personal life, David had three pas- outstanding abilities. He was a caring, sions, his family, art and rugby football. His David died peacefully at home in Danbury thinking orthodontist, always having the name indicates that he came from an Italian on Saturday 30 June 2001, following a long patient’s requirements in mind. He had an background, which may explain his impres- fight against prostate cancer. impressive list of publications, and was in sive knowledge of art. As a rugby player, he Born in 1935 in Kingston, Surrey, he constant demand as both a national and played for Kings College Hospital ‘Saracens’ attended Tiffins Boy’s School and then international lecturer. and the RAF. moved on to study dentistry at King’s Col- Besides his clinical commitments, he He leaves behind his beloved wife Moyra lege Hospital. He graduated with honours, played an important political role in den- and children Judy, Andrew and and James. followed by a short service commission in tistry. His overwhelming passion was to see David will be greatly missed by his family, the Royal Air Force 1961–1963. On comple- the divided orthodontic specialty in the UK friends and colleagues. tion he obtained his Fellowship and united under one organisation. To this end, D. B. L. Diploma in Orthodontics. During his he acted as ‘midwife’ to the developing David Clifford Shelley

they eventually ended up in Durban, South was the apple of his grandfather’s eye. Africa. Their father was taken a prisoner of Throughout his life he maintained his love war for four years but fortunately survived of fishing, sailing and old wooden boats. and was reunited with them. Invariably, all boating activity was con- Later, David went to St Paul’s School in cluded with a pint and a yarn at the Fisher- London and then Guy’s Hospital to study man’s Arms on the Fowey Estuary. dentistry. His national service was as a den- David leaves behind a devoted family, tal officer in the Royal Navy. After enjoying loyal friendships, the respect of his col- sailing in the Thames while at school, the leagues and the gratitude of his patients for navy strengthened his love of the water and providing them with such a high standard in 1968 he moved to Fowey in Cornwall to of dental care throughout his working life. be near the sea. After a spell as an assistant G. L.B. he opened his own practice in nearby St Blazey where he stayed until early retire- DEATH NOTICE ment in 1989. During this time he made many friends Mr James Alfred Hudson died on 12 June in the dental profession. With his bushy 2001, aged 103. He was the oldest dentist beard, tendency to mumble and wicked on the Dentists Register. His qualifica- tions include LDS RCS Eng in December David Shelley was born in 1933 in Singa- sense of humour he soon acquired the sta- 1922, HDD in 1936 and FDS RCS Edin in pore. His father was a doctor in the Colonial tus of a ‘real character’. This was further 1957. Services, based in Malaya. enhanced by his occasional loud snoring Last year, he was awarded the hon- He left Singapore in January 1942 with when the lights went out at postgraduate orary FDS by the Faculty of Dental his mother and sister on one of the last meetings. Surgery of The Royal College of Sur- ships to leave the colony before the David and his wife Paddy had three chil- geons of England. Up until his death he Japanese arrived. At the time none of them dren; Rachel 26, Mary 25 and Piran 20. was also one of the two auditors of the knew where they were being taken to and There is also a young grandson Petroc who BDA Hospitals Group.

282 BRITISH DENTAL JOURNAL, VOLUME 191, NO. 5, SEPTEMBER 8 2001