Roger Murdoch MBE, LDS, FDS
@OVC
Oil painting of Roger Murdoch, painted in 1958. Artist: Alan Sutherland (1931-2019)
British Dental Journal 193, 58 (2002) obituary exerpts:
Dr Roger Murdoch was born in Oban, Scotland. The family moved to Edinburgh when Roger was young and he was educated at the Royal High School.
He went on to take the double medical and dental qualifications at Edinburgh University; LDS. in 1932 and LRCP & S in 1933. He also gained the LRFPS Glasgow in 1933.
After a brief spell in practice in Northampton, most of his professional life was in the 'New Town' of Edinburgh at 1 Randolph Crescent, where he built up what must have been the most prestigious private practice north of London. Patients came from far and wide to be looked after by this most upright, honest and excellent operator in gracious Georgian surroundings.
Postgraduate studies in Philadelphia gave him an edge in conservative dental skills that were to become his passion and forte. His experience in the United States led to an appreciation of what he saw as the enthusiasm and freshness of the USA, and he fostered friendships in that time that were to continue for the rest of his life.
One such friend was Miles Markley, of the Markley wire fame, who at Roger's invitation came across to Edinburgh to present his work at the Edinburgh Dental School. His close liaison with one of the UK's top dental technicians of his time, Ronald Walter, and some of the leading colleagues in London meant his practice in Edinburgh was very much at the cutting edge of post war developments in dentistry in the UK.
Appointed to the 96th Military Hospital in the early Forties, he was dental officer to the Allied Forces Headquarters in Algiers and later in Caserta, north of Naples, for the major part of the war. 'Dental Murdoch' as he was affectionately known to all at the AFHQ, not only because of his dental skills but because of his 'Adolphe Menjou' moustache which was less military and a pleasant change from the whiskers of the 8th Army, popular at the time.
Towards the end of the war he fell heir to some German booty; dental equipment and materials of superior quality, which, with his usual interest and enthusiasm, he put to good use. His professionalism, despite long hours and inadequate resources with a patient load of over 100 a day, earned him high regard in the region. He was awarded an MBE at the end of the war.
When, after the war in 1948, the National Health Service was introduced, Roger, independent as ever, decided not to participate. Unlike many of his colleagues his practice always remained entirely private. For some years he taught part-time in the conservation department at the University of Edinburgh.
Roger Murdoch was a perfectionist and expected everyone to measure up to the same high standards. Colleagues commented that his demonstrations of gold work were outstanding and his professional expertise was rewarded with an honorary FDS in 1970.
