A Lancaster academic has been awarded an OBE for his services to the dental and medical professions, as well as his local community.
Peter Dyer was named in the King's 2024 Birthday Honours' List, for his decades of dedication to the professions of dentistry and medicine along with personal contributions to the communities of Silverdale and Lancaster.
The proud Lancastrian, who has worked as a Clinical Senior Lecturer in Oral Surgery at the University of Central Lancashire’s Preston Campus for six years, said: “A thick envelope came through the letterbox, and it had on my name, along with the words his Majesty the King’s Service and Cabinet Office. My hands were shaking when I opened it as I thought to myself, well it can’t be what I think it might be.
“When I read it, I was utterly gobsmacked and I couldn’t stop looking at it. The news hasn’t quite sunk in yet but I feel very humble to have received something so special.”
Peter is a consultant oral and maxillofacial surgeon with a special interest in facial trauma, orthognathic surgery and oral medicine. At the University of Central Lancashire, he lectures on oral diseases and oral surgery to undergraduates and postgraduates. He is also a delegate responsible officer overseeing the appraisal and revalidation of doctors in his NHS Trust.
He said: “I kept the news a secret because my wife and daughter have been touring South America and they only got back on Thursday night. I wanted to keep it a surprise until I could see the reactions on their faces when I told them.
“I’d put a bottle of champagne in the fridge so, when the news was officially announced at 10.30pm on Friday, we cracked it open and we celebrated.”
The start of Peter’s career saw him move down from his home city of Lancaster to London, where he graduated from the Royal Dental Hospital in 1979 with his undergraduate degree in dentistry. In 1988, he then gained his medicine qualification from London’s University College Hospital. He completed his training in oral and maxillofacial surgery in Bristol and at The Royal London Hospital.
Peter then returned to north Lancashire in 1998 when he was appointed consultant in oral and maxillofacial surgery for the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust. He progressed to Medical Director of the Trust and managed the clinical response to the Grayrigg train derailment in 2007 and the swine flu pandemic in 2009.
He was named President of the British Dental Association between 2017 and 2018 and was made a Distinguished Life Member of the British Dental Association seven years ago. He was Chair of the Central Committee for Hospital Dental Services between 2015 and 2022 and was a Member of the National Advisory Board for Human Factors in Dentistry between 2019 to 2022.
Peter is a co-editor of The Handbook of Immediate Care and has published chapters on facial trauma in eight textbooks. He also has an interest in the history of medicine and dentistry.
Away from work, the father-of-two is a licenced lay minister in Silverdale, where he now lives, and volunteers at Lancaster’s Medical Museum.
He added: “I’ve been very lucky to have wonderful colleagues during my long career and I’ve been privileged to come back home and work with the fantastic people in the dental and medical professions within the North West, and most recently at the University.
‘’I had retired from full-time clinical work but I then got a new career in the education world, working in a lovely department, with great colleagues who are dedicated to making the next generation of dentists.”
Peter will travel to Buckingham Palace for his investiture later this year or early next year.
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