British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (1986) 24, 384-386 0 1986 The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Rupert Sutton Taylor, O.B.E., T.D.. F.D.S.R.C.S. (Eng.), L.R.C.P., M.R.C.S. OBITUARY Rupert Sutton Taylor, a distinguished pioneer of the specialty of oral and maxillofacial surgery and a past President of the Association, died at Ramsey, Isle of Man on Friday, April 4th 1986 in his Xlst year. He was born in Carrig Byrne, Co. Wexford on July 18th 190.5 and educated at Newtown School, Waterford and, although his professional education and career were destined to take place in England, he remained at heart, and in spirit, an Irishman although he elected to spend his retirement among Manxmen. He qualified in Dentistry from the Royal Dental Hospital in 1928 with the L.D.S.R.C.S. (Eng.) diploma, and in Medicine and Surgery from the Middlesex Hospital, obtaining the Conjoint Diplomas of L.R.C.P. (Lond.) and M.R.C.S. (Eng.) in 1930. His first h ospital appointment was that of dental house surgeon at the Middlesex Hospital in 1928 which was followed by appointment to the post of clinical assistant to the dental department of the Westminster Hospital from 1929-1931. During this period, at the remarkably young age of 25, he was appointed as a consultant dental surgeon to the Seamen’s Hospital, Greenwich a position in which he continued to serve for 40 years until his retirement in 1970. In addition to these duties he was Senior Clinical Assistant to the Dental Surgeon at the Nose, Ear and Throat Hospital, Golden Square from 1931-1932 followed by an appointment as Honorary Dental Surgeon to the National Hospital, Queen’s Square from 1933 until 1937 when he was selected for a consultant post at the 384
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British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (1986) 24, 384-386 0 1986 The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
Rupert Sutton Taylor, a distinguished pioneer of the specialty of oral and maxillofacial surgery and a past President of the Association, died at Ramsey, Isle of Man on Friday, April 4th 1986 in his Xlst year. He was born in Carrig Byrne, Co. Wexford on July 18th 190.5 and educated at Newtown School, Waterford and, although his professional education and career were destined to take place in England, he remained at heart, and in spirit, an Irishman although he elected to spend his retirement among Manxmen.
He qualified in Dentistry from the Royal Dental Hospital in 1928 with the L.D.S.R.C.S. (Eng.) diploma, and in Medicine and Surgery from the Middlesex Hospital, obtaining the Conjoint Diplomas of L.R.C.P. (Lond.) and M.R.C.S. (Eng.) in 1930. His first h ospital appointment was that of dental house surgeon at the Middlesex Hospital in 1928 which was followed by appointment to the post of clinical assistant to the dental department of the Westminster Hospital from 1929-1931. During this period, at the remarkably young age of 25, he was appointed as a consultant dental surgeon to the Seamen’s Hospital, Greenwich a position in which he continued to serve for 40 years until his retirement in 1970. In addition to these duties he was Senior Clinical Assistant to the Dental Surgeon at the Nose, Ear and Throat Hospital, Golden Square from 1931-1932 followed by an appointment as Honorary Dental Surgeon to the National Hospital, Queen’s Square from 1933 until 1937 when he was selected for a consultant post at the
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Westminster Hospital at the age of 32 years. When Queen Mary’s Hospital, Roehampton became part of the Westminster Hospital Teaching Group in 1962 Rupert Sutton Taylor became the senior consultant and held this appointment. together with those at the Seamen’s Hospital and the Westminster Hospital, until his retirement which took place shortly after the opening of the new department at Roehampton. This achievement was principally due to his efforts and had been recognised by the Minister of Health personally cutting the first sod of the foundations a year previously.
The two ‘linchpins’ of Rupert’s life were Oral Surgery and the Territorial Branch of the R.A.M.C. and he served both with distinction throughout his long professional career. It may be difficult for the present generation to appreciate that, in this country before the Second World War, the specialty of oral surgery was almost non-existent and that organised hospital dentistry did not exist outside the Teaching Hospitals. Under these circumstances it is all the more remarkable that he was instrumental in the foundation of the Oral Surgery Club of Great Britain as long ago as 1936 which not only created a nucleus for future post-war development but also, as a Travelling Club. forged links with the specialty in Europe which continue to the present time. He was the first honorary secretary and treasurer of the Club and was elected President in 1962. This year, therefore, marks the 50th anniversary and it is sad to reflect that he did not survive to participate in the celebrations. He was a member of the Steering Committce set up in 1961 which led to the formation of the British Association of Oral Surgeons the following year; was a member of the inaugural Council and subsequently became President in 1965. The following year he was also elected President of the Odontological Section of the Royal Society of Medicine.
Both before and after the War he was an examiner in materia medica and dental surgery for the Queen’s Hospital, Belfast, a recognised teacher in oral surgery of the University of London from 1948 and, in the same year, was elected a Fellow in Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. Appointed as an Officer of the most Venerable Order of St. John of Jerusalem in 1959. he succeeded to the position of Commander in 1961.
He joined the B.D.A. in 1931 and served on the Representative Committee for many years. In 1954 he was President of the Hospitals Group at a time when there was considerable dissatisfaction with the lack of representation of hospital dental staff with the Ministry of Health. This problem was eventually resolved by the formation of the Central Dental Consultants and Specialists Committee, in conformity with its medical counterpart, and Rupert Sutton Taylor was elected as its first Chairman. He also served on the London Executive Council of the National Health Service for 14 years during the course of which he was elected as Chairman in 1953. His services to the profession were recognised by election to Honorary Fellowship of the B.D.A., a rare distinction which he greatly appreciated.
Rupert Sutton Taylor’s military career commenced in the same year as he qualified in dentistry when, in 1928, he was appointed to a Territorial Forces Commission as a Lieutenant R.A.M.C. and posted to the 8th London Hygiene Company. After qualifying medically he subsequently joined 162 Field Ambulance in 1938 with the rank of Major and was posted as Commanding Officer of 127 Field Ambulance with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1941. He was appointed Commanding Officer of 146 Field Ambulance the following year and this Unit, which formed part of 49th (West Riding) Division, took part in the invasion of Europe, setting up an Advanced Dressing Station at St. Leger on June 14th 1944 and, thereafter. was in immediate support of the troops advancing through
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Normandy. Thenceforth, 146 Field Ambulance was involved in the crossing of the Seine at Rouen, the assault on Le Havre, and the advance through Holland to the Nijmegen salient. Finally, the Unit was involved in the occupation of Germany until August 1945. Rupert Sutton Taylor was awarded the Territorial Decoration (three bars) and the O.B.E. (Military Division) for his services. After the war he continued his interest in and involvement with the Territorial Army as Regimental Medical Officer to the Queen Victoria Rifles (7th Battalion K.R.R.C.) and was appointed, as Commanding Officer, to 161 East Anglian Field Ambulance R.A.M.C. (T.A.) in 1957. The following year he was transferred to the Reserve of Officers but, in 1959, was appointed Honorary Colonel of the Medical Units of 54 (East Anglian) Infantry Division (T.A.) relinquishing this office in 1966, thus completing 38 years’ service in the Territorial Army.
To those who only knew him superficially. his personality presented an enigma, verging at times on the eccentric. His temper was primed with a ‘short fuse’ which ensured a rapid response from his junior staff, but the occasional explosion was more in the nature of a ‘thunderflash’ which, having achieved its deterrent effect, left no residual damage but ensured that the lesson had been learned. Underlying this apparently irascible exterior was a gentleman of the old school to whom the traditions of courtesy to his colleagues and patients and loyalty to his staff remained of paramount importance at all times and he would defend these principles with the utmost determination, but never more so than when he suspected any administra- tive incompetence or covert machinations which could threaten the efficiency or development of his department. He possessed an encyclopaedic knowledge of history, customs and traditions and would regale one over lunch, or as his guest at the Savage Club, with intriguing excerpts from his remarkable memory.
Rupert Sutton Taylor was a fiercely independent person, possibly a lonely individual at times, but an outstanding character in an age which tends to encourage conformity. Those who worked with him, and indeed for him. came to appreciate his sterling qualities and the warmth of his true nature which tended to be belied by superficial acquaintance. On the day that he died, the Spring Meeting of the Association was taking place and this fortuitous example of serendipity would doubtless have earned his approval as good organisation by the Staff. Our sense of loss is tempered by gratitude for his pioneer efforts in the development of oral surgery in Britain and our hope that the principles which guided his professional career will be perpetuated.
Francis Bacon, in his preface to The Elements of the Common Law written in the sixteenth century, stated: ‘I hold every man a debtor to his profession’. The account of Rupert Sutton Taylor is now closed and shows a considerable surplus. Let US, as his professional beneficiaries, use this to good effect in the furtherance of the specialty which was foremost in his life’s endeavours.
