Paul Pinkerton met Chris Kennedy at De La Salle College Ashfield in the 1960’s and they decided to enter the Faculty of Dentistry in 1966.
As well as developing his academic and clinical skills over the next five or six years, Paul (and Chris) joined the recently formed Sydney University Rugby League Club and made lifelong friends whilst showing their skills as hard running and defending centres and wingers.
On Graduation Paul worked for the Shanahans, two well known Dentists in Homebush, and in early 1973 left with Chris to live in London and work in the National Health System of The UK.
Work in London was interspersed with lots of British and European holidays, often including golf trips to Ireland and Scotland. Paul was always planning to “see you in Munich”!
After a couple of years in London Paul decided to take his sporty “Lotus Elan” to South Africa. He worked in Cape Town for some months and met Sue Watkins Baker whilst there.
He returned to London, where by chance, he met Sue again and a longterm friendship began to flourish. They returned to Australia in the late 1970’s, worked with the Shanahans again in Homebush as well as part time with Chris, who had just set up a Dental practice in Birkenhead Point.
During this time Paul and Sue married, and in 1985 they returned to England, where Paul worked in Central London, and children Holly and Jack were born.
In 1994 Paul returned to Sydney and commenced working at the Lyons Road Dental Surgery with Chris and David Sheen.
Over the next twenty years Paul nurtured his young family and continued his sporting interests, following the Western Suburbs Rugby League team, now the Wests Tigers and enjoyed his tennis, squash, golf and skiing, excelling in all. He also took great care of his aging parents and his extended family.
Paul has a remarkable temperament. Never appearing to get rattled when things aren’t going smoothly, making him the perfect person to work with. He is much loved by all the staff who have worked here and admired and respected by his many patients who will miss his dedicated professional care, calm, friendly and down to earth manner.
Most of all we will miss his dry sense of humour which always seemed to sneak out when most unexpected.
Paul will be very much missed by all of us here at Lyons Road.
We wish Paul a much deserved, long and happy retirement.