Russell Vaughn Leeburn
1947 – 2023
Russell was born on April 23rd 1947 in Cardiff and spent his early years in the village of St. Mellons in the Cardiff area. He attended Bassalag Grammar School near Newport and around the age of 12 to 13 had formed a desire to train as a dentist. His dentist helped to inspire him along with his biology teacher who was keen on dentistry. After referral at 13 years of age for orthodontic treatment he chose that as his ultimate goal.
He trained as a dentist at Guy’s 1965-70, after qualifying he worked four days per week sharing his time between practice in Peckham and in children’s dental clinics in Newham. One day a week he followed one of his enduring passions horse racing and seriously contemplated becoming a sports commentator which would not surprise anyone that knew him well.
Russell returned to Guy’s to a house job in The Children’s Department, followed by jobs in Oral Surgery at The Eastman Dental Hospital, Paedodontics at the London and later Crown and Bridge/ Perio at UCH. Orthodontic training commenced with the D.Orth course at the Eastman from Oct. 74 -75. He returned to the Eastman as a Registrar in Orthodontics one day per week.
He started orthodontics in John Bennett’s practice in Beckenham but rather than buying this practice he started from scratch his own very successful practice in Ipswich. This required him to continue working part time in Beckenham and a little later also part time as a general dentist in Chelmsford until his practice was up and thriving. In May 1977 he attended the TP Begg course in the USA and Dr. Begg was one the instructors! He was very impressed with Tom Rocke’s organised approach to treating patients.
In 1977 he also started a one day a week teaching post at Guy’s in orthodontics initially for undergraduates but this developed into post graduate teaching as well. In 1983 he attended the 11th. Congress of the European Begg Society a meeting at which Chris Kettler was inspired by a presentation to start a study group for specialist practitioners. Chris was accompanied by Russell and Andy Parker and they all became co-founders of the East of England Begg Study group later to be called OSCAR (Orthodontic Study Circle Anglia Region) because it became so popular with Specialist Orthodontists that it expanded beyond the original limited membership.
He was primarily responsible for setting up of an award for patients and their orthodontist launched at the IOC in Paris in 2005 entitled “Against the Odds”. This was patient led and awarded to the patient and orthodontist that achieved the best outcome under the most difficult circumstances. The trophy was the work of a French sculptress Sophie Raine and was found through Russell’s endeavours and collected with the help of Keith Pearson.
He was also pleased to become the BOS media correspondent a position he held for many years. Media was very important to Russell and his interest in films especially led to his running an online competition to predict the results of the real Oscars. Those who knew him well were amazed at his memory for lists of film credits and music, a passion he shared with the late Mike Read.
Russell was one of the most entertaining of lecturers and was very keen on the aesthetic outcome for patients but still firmly based on scientific principles. Above all he will be remembered as one of the best and most delightful of after dinner speakers both at Orthodontic conferences but other gatherings where he was a very popular and an often invited speaker due to his careful research about his audience.
He was a great enthusiast for all sports and supported Ipswich Town Football Club attending hundreds of fixtures as a season ticket holder for 30 years. Golf was a continuing delight for him for all of his active life. His most enjoyable achievement came in 2004 when after 31 years he had played all of the top 100 Golf courses – one of a small select group of players to do this! It required playing more than the top 100 as at least 20 of the top list changed with about 80 remaining stable in the rank.
Rotary was very important to him along with Jazz with visits to many clubs and venues to hear the music live, Ronnie Scotts being a favourite. He had interest in the arts and was a keen script writer and member of the Wolsey Writers Group and contributed pieces to Ipswich Fringe Festival.
He leaves a lovely wife Jane and three children and 6 grandchildren. He will be remembered for his wit and humour by all that admired and loved him.