Bill started his career in Dental Technology as an indentured apprentice at the Middlesex County Council laboratory in Teddington in the spring of l957. The laboratory had fifteen fully qualified technicians and two apprentices.
He attended Brooklands College on a day release basis to attain the City and Guilds intermediate and final certificates.
After qualifying he took up a position as a Surgical Technician (maxillofacial as it is described today) at Hammersmith Hospital. London W6 was a rough area then and we were very busy with silver cap splints for jaw fractures, especially after the few weekend fights. During his eight years at Hammersmith he studied for the Maxilla Facial Technology qualification at Brooklands.
In the early seventies he moved to Kingston Hospital Surrey as an Maxillo Facial technician but was transferred to the orthodontic unit working with Bill Johnston. Bill was a founder member of the OTA and was a very skilled technician in all disciplines, particularly Orthodontics.
He accompanied Harry Orton OBE Orthodontist at Kingston running numerous courses both in the UK and worldwide. Harry Orton OBE published a book in l985 titled "Functional Appliances and their Uses in Orthodontic Treatment". Bill was responsible for the technical text and technical illustrations.
Bill was also part-time teacher at Brooklands College until its funds were withdrawn in l991 and all the courses closed.
He was a City and Guilds technical examiner for the advanced orthodontic certificate from l983 until it was phased out in l997.
Bill retired in the spring of 2006 from Kingston Hospital but still does a few hours a week at OPADS a local orthodontic laboratory proving that Technicians never really retire! |
