The British Association of Dental Nurses (BADN) has announced the death of Madeleine (Bunty) Lee, nee Winter, the Association’s founder member and first secretary. Mrs Lee, who was 89, died peacefully in her sleep while recovering from a fall just before Christmas.
Madeleine worked for general practitioner Philip Grundy in Leyland, Lancashire, during the war years.
A visiting US serviceman told them about an association for dental assistants in the US, which inspired them to start a similar association for British dental nurses.
Despite difficulties caused by wartime restrictions, Madeleine travelled around the UK persuading nurses to join the new association.
In November 1943, the association held the first dental nursing examination, under the aegis of the newly formed National Examining Board for Dental Nurses and Assistants, which remained part of the association until the late 1980s when it became an independent organisation.
Madeleine was one of the first UK dental nurses to be awarded this new certificate.
She remained an honorary life member of the association, opening the new offices when BADN moved to Hillhouse in 2003.