The Hudson family have been providing dental care in Hertford for over 80 years with four generations training as Dentists at Guy’s Hospital in London.

Our family story starts in 1912 when Charles Hudson registers to attend Guy’s Hospital but doesn’t start his course until 1919 due to the outbreak of the First World War.  After qualifying he worked for a local Dentist, Frank Lawrence at 6 Ware Road in Hertford until he set up his own practice at 185 Ware Road in 1932.  In 1936, Charles moved the practice to 195 Ware Road, Hertford which was built to his requirements.

In 1941, Charles’ son, William qualified as a Dentist from Guy’s Hospital and is followed by his brother Michael in 1945.  Both brothers joined the family practice.

John, William’s son qualified as a Dentist from Guy’s Hospital and joined the family practice just as Charles retired.

In 1972 Michael’s son, Timothy qualified as a Dentist from Guy’s Hospital later becoming principal of his practice at 195 Ware Road, Hertford in 1986.

The late 1980s see William and Michael retire from general practice.

In 1996, John moves his practice to 23 Bull Plain in Hertford meanwhile David had already started his training at Guy’s Hospital.  David qualified in 2000 and completed a vocational training year in Grimsby before joining his father in 2001.

David became practice owner in 2009 and John retired in 2010.

80 years celebrations

On the afternoon of 22 June 2012 the practice celebrated 80 years of the family providing dental care by holding an open day.  Visitors were able to look around the practice and view our facilities as well as meet some of the companies we regularly work with such as Denplan, Invisalign, Bremadent and Straumann.  The BDA Museum also attended and brought with them some old instruments for visitors to look at and attempt extractions on models.

After a brief speech and cutting of the cake David presented thank you gifts to patients who have been registered with the family for a long time, some of whom have seen all four generations.

Special offers on the 80 year theme were available on the day for patients.  Oral B and Denplan donated prizes for our children’s competition to design a logo for the practice and a prize draw for adults.  Adults and children attending were given a goody bag to go home with.

Jo, one of our nurses decorated the practice and put together a display on our history in the waiting room.

Several articles were published on our celebrations; Hertfordshire Mercury - 31 May 2012 (page 38), Dentistry - 21 June 2012 (page 9) and the Denplan newsletter.

The British Dental Association’s Museum held an exhibition on our family from June to August 2012 at their offices in London.  The family donated items for display including a text book used by William Hudson, William’s slides and a power mallet which would have been used by Charles. The Museum also displayed items on loan from Hertford Museum which had previously been donated by the family.   

Please click here to see the exhibition