A CLYDEBANK man who won an award for his outstanding contribution to Scottish dentistry has died aged 64 following a short illness.

Graham McKirdy won the accolade at the 2014 Scottish Dentistry Awards, but was typically unassuming following what he described as his “shock” win.

He told Scottish Dentistry magazine afterwards: “It’s a bit like a football team. You’re part of a team. Occasionally you’re a captain, but you’re a part of a team, and everybody works to deliver what’s best for dentists and patients.”

Graham was born in Clydebank on July 16, 1955, to Robert and Irene McKirdy; he has a younger brother, Fraser.

At Clydebank High School he showed an aptitude for mathematics, and on leaving school in 1972, he began training with Scottish Mutual.

But his dentist in Clydebank encouraged him to think about a career in dentistry, and after much thought he began studying at the University of Glasgow, from where he graduated in 1979.

He initially worked at a dental practice in East Kilbride but soon set up a partnership in practices at Bridgeton Cross, Glasgow, and in the Burnbank area of Hamilton. After graduation he had returned to the Glasgow Dental Hospital and School in a part-time role as a visiting GP, teaching undergraduate students – a role he fulfilled for more than 20 years.

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He was a skilled, empathetic and caring clinician and proved very popular with his patients, something reflected in the success of both practices, where he remained until his retirement in 2015.

Early in his career he was elected to the Local Dental Committee (LDC) in Lanarkshire, where he helped represent the interests of dentists and their patients in discussions with the health board and other authorities.

He was also elected to the Glasgow LDC and took part in all manner of representative bodies, committees – many of which he chaired – and working groups within the BDA at Scottish and UK level.

This often brought him into contact with senior health officials and government ministers. He commanded great respect on all sides.

After retirement from clinical practice he maintained an interest in his profession and also was elected to the community council in his adopted home town of Uddingston, and was swiftly appointed as its chairman.

Graham met his wife, Grace, when they were at school. They married in 1975 while both were studying.

Grace, a teacher, qualified first, and supported Graham until his graduation, although Graham also worked part-time; he claimed he and his brother had the largest paper round in Clydebank.

He is survived by Grace, daughter Heather and son Bruce, their spouses Niall and Jenna, his brother Fraser and sister-in-law Allison, and his two grandchildren, Matilda and Forbes.