Lindsay Society member, Dr Richard Graham has just published what should be the definitive “History of the Northern Ireland Branch of the British Dental Association”.
The Branch celebrates its centenary this year and the book is packed full of photographs of people and events from its 100 year history – even up to the current year.
The first chapters set out the state of dentistry as the BDA was formed, how the Irish Branch grew and split with the creation of the Irish Free State and the dental school at Queen’s University Belfast was opened. Each decade has its own section with key events and personalities highlighted and many sources quoted. Appendices list the Presidents of the Branch, Honorary Northern Ireland Branch Officers, winners of the Branch golf challenge cup and winners of the Northern Ireland veterans’ salver. There is also a timeline for the constitution of BDA Committee and Office Structure.
The final Appendix is a call for help with discovering lost items including the minutes of the Northern Ireland branch between 1923 and 1980, the first Branch golf trophy, a Radio-Gramophone with an engraved plate and the Killiner and McCourt squash trophy. There are many other minutes and objects mentioned that the Branch would love to find to enhance its history.
At the end of many months of research the author discovered that “The overwhelming theme, for me, has been the importance of the Branch to Dentistry and Dentists in Northern Ireland over each of the last one hundred years…every Dentist has some reason to thank the Branch and the remarkable men and women who have devoted their time and energy to service.”
The book costs £50 (plus £6.99 for postage), £25 of which goes to the Benevolent Fund. Email helen.nield@bda.org for more information if you are interested in purchasing a copy.