Huia Pickard

Huia Masters Pickard FDS RCS MRCS LRCP (25 March 1909 – 17 July 2002), professionally referred to as H. M. Pickard and known informally as "Pick", was a New Zealand-born British dental surgeon, medical officer, and academic. He was a pioneering figure in the formalisation of restorative dentistry as an academic discipline in the United Kingdom, serving as the Professor of Conservative Dentistry at the Royal Dental Hospital of London. He is most widely recognised as the original author of A Manual of Operative Dentistry, a foundational textbook that remained a standard global resource in dental education through ten editions over more than fifty years.

Early life and education Huia Masters Pickard was born on 25 March 1909 in Masterton, New Zealand, the son of Ernest Pickard and Sophie Elizabeth Pickard (née Robins).

In 1927, Pickard began his dental studies at the Royal Dental Hospital's London School of Dental Surgery in Leicester Square. He qualified with a Licentiate in Dental Surgery in 1932. Seeking a more comprehensive clinical background, he subsequently enrolled at Charing Cross Hospital Medical School, qualifying as a medical doctor (MRCS, LRCP) with the conjoint examination in 1936. However, in June 1983, Pickard was forced to relinquish the chairmanship due to the rapid progression of debilitating deafness. His colleague, Margaret Seward, described his decision to step down as a "courageous step," taken to ensure the school's governance did not suffer. He remained a governor until 1984 and continued to visit the school regularly well into his nineties.

Research and contributions Pickard's most enduring academic legacy is his textbook, A Manual of Operative Dentistry, first published by Oxford University Press in 1961. The manual was noted for its focus on clinical precision and the integration of biological principles with restorative techniques. Pickard personally authored the first five editions. In later years, the book was revised by colleagues including Edwina Kidd and Bernard Smith, and was eventually retitled Pickard's Guide to Minimally Invasive Operative Dentistry.

He was a founder member and the first president of the British Society for Restorative Dentistry, serving from 1968 to 1969. He also served as the president of the odontological section of the Royal Society of Medicine in 1971.

Personal life In 1945, Pickard married Daphne ("Daffy") Evelyn Marriott. He credited his wife's organisational skills as essential to managing his complex professional commitments. The couple had two daughters.

In retirement, Pickard lived at "The Nuttery" in Daventry, Northamptonshire, where he and his wife operated a market garden harvesting hazelnuts, snowdrops, and spring blooms. He was described by colleagues as a polymath with a profound appreciation for the works of W. B. Yeats and John Keats, as well as a lifelong passion for automobiles. He was noted for his characteristically large and bold pen handwriting. He died on 17 July 2002 at the age of 93.

Awards and recognition

Mentioned in Despatches for Second World War service. Fellowship in Dental Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons of England (1947). Tomes Medal, British Dental Association (1983), awarded for distinguished services to the dental profession. Honorary Membership, British Society for Restorative Dentistry.

Selected publications