Dentist, Jazzman, Peer and Campaigner, the Life of Lord Colwyn
- Details
- Published: Wednesday, 14 August 2024 08:29
- Written by Peter Ingle
- Hits: 1993
Tony Hamilton-Smith, better known as The Lord Colwyn CBE, has died at the age of 82. Parallel careers as a dentist and jazz musician were later joined by an increasingly active role in the House of Lords. In his later years as one of the remaining hereditary peers, he was a spokesman and supporter for his two passions.
He was remarkably successful in all his endeavours. In dentistry he qualified in 1966 and practiced until 2005, with a successful West End practice. He was Chair of indemnifier Dental Protection from 1995 to 2001, and a director of parent organisation the Medical Protection Society from 1989 to 2002.
Like many dentists of his generation he had an interest in sedation, and from 1993 to 1998 was president of the Society for the Advancement of Dental Sedation (SAAD) which in less regulated times worked to provide training and raise standards in the provision of dental sedation. He also served as vice president of the British Fluoridation Society in 2022.
At the BDA he was active in the Metropolitan branch where he was President from 1994 to 1995. In 2005 he was made a fellow of the BDA.
In parallel with his dental career he had started a dance band that played at dances and balls during the 1960’s and 1970’s. An accomplished trumpeter he would lead the band until 2004. In his time he played at Ronnie Scott’s, the private Ruby wedding dance for the Queen and Prince Phillip in 1987, and assembled a 24 piece big band that played at the Albert Hall. Aside from performing, he was a founder director of Jazz FM, and involved in local radio.
He would take both of his interest to the Lords. Though he succeeded to his title in 1966 his involvement at the Lords increased after the 1999 reforms. At that time most of his fellow hereditary peers were removed, but he was one of the 90 that were elected to stay. He would serve on the Science and Technology Select Committee, as well as groups for ambulance and paramedic teams, and complementary healthcare. As late as 2020 he was asking questions in the Lords about dental charges and the dental budget. Reflecting his musical interests he would secure funding for the Parliamentary Jazz Awards, launched in 2005 and Co- chair the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group.
From 2007 until his retirement from the Lords in 2022, he was a deputy speaker.
You need to be logged in to leave comments.
Report