Lawrence D. Finch, FRCSED, FDSRCSED

Abstract

Lawrence Donald Finch (“Lawrie”) died on 27 October 2006, following a long illness bravely borne. Lawrie was born in Liverpool on 23 April 1929, and was initially educated at Liverpool Institute High School for Boys prior to attending the University of Liverpool between 1947 and 1955. He originally obtained an honours degree in biochemistry in 1950, prior to his dental degree in 1955. More importantly, during this period of time, he met his future wife Kay, herself a student at the University reading History and English. Eight months later, while a Senior House Officer at Leicester Royal Infirmary, he passed his Part I FDSRCS examination in Edinburgh which was the commencement of his lifetime and distinguished association with the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. He subsequently undertook National Service at the Plastic and Jaw Injuries Centre, Princess Mary's RAF Hospital, Halton, Buckinghamshire between 1956 and 1958. During this period he was successful in obtaining his Part II FDSRCS examination in Edinburgh. A decision was taken to pursue a career in the development of the specialty of oral surgery and, to this end, he entered the University of Edinburgh Medical School obtaining his MB, ChB in 1961. Typical of Lawrie's work ethos, he undertook general dental practice during the whole of his clinical medical studies in Edinburgh and following full registration, while working in junior hospital posts, he acted as locum tenens in several general medical practices during his annual leave, both urban and rural. After pre-registration house jobs in Edinburgh, he undertook further specialty training as a Senior Registrar in Sheffield before returning to his beloved Liverpool in 1965, as a Consultant Oral Surgeon. Over the next 24 years, he was Consultant in Administrative Charge of the Oral & Maxillofacial Unit at Liverpool Royal Infirmary and, subsequently, the Royal Liverpool University Hospital. During this period of time, the Unit gradually expanded to provide training for a Senior Registrar, two Registrars and two resident Senior House Officers with the appointment, in later years, of a second Consultant. The clinical activity of the Unit embraced almost the whole field of oral and maxillofacial surgery, other than major head and neck oncology. The special unit in this last discipline, under the care of Professor P.M. Stell, worked in close liaison with Lawrie on cases of mutual clinical interest. Having first been elected to the Dental Council of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 1971, Lawrie maintained an active and continued interest in the affairs of the College for the remainder of his career. He served on the Dental Examinations Committee from 1972 to 1981, was College representative on the Specialist Advisory Committee in Oral Surgery and Oral Medicine from 1977 to 1985 and was a member of the Joint Committee for Higher Training in Dentistry from 1978 to 1986. During this period of time he was also an examiner for LDSRCSED, Part II FDSRCSED and Part II FRCSED. He was elected Convener and Dean for the Faculty of Dental Surgery from 1983 to 1986. It was during this time that Lawrie's intellectual and negotiating skills came to the fore and he put forward recommendations to the Council which would have a pivotal role in the development and future of oral and maxillofacial surgery. On 16 March 1984, the Council accepted the recommendation that, in the light of the increasing complexity of work being then performed within the specialty, a Part II FRCSED Examination in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery should be instituted. The examination would include, as proposed, a section in the Principles of Surgical Care, identical with those in General Surgery and ENT Fellowship examinations. The first diet of the examination was held in January 1985 and, of the 18 successful candidates many held Senior Registrar or Consultant appointments in the specialty. He was awarded FRCSED by election in 1985. Lawrie's contribution to our speciality was rightfully recognised by the award of the Down Surgical Prize in 1993 by the British Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons and the Dental Faculty Medal by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 2003. In March 1989, he took early retirement from his NHS appointments under the provision of “Achieving a Balance”, although he subsequently continued in private consulting practice for several years providing a highly valued referral service for local general medical and dental practitioners. He leaves his wife Kay, four children, David, Michael, Susan and Richard and seven grandchildren to whom we extend our deep and sincere sympathy in their sad loss.