Sew, here we are.

There comes a point in every President’s term when they have to lay down a legacy, something by which they will be judged by future BSP Presidents for generations to come. That moment finally arrived for me this month when I sat down to sew my name plaque onto the presidential chain.

Like Presidents before me, I couldn’t help but look at the stitching efforts of my predecessors, interested to see if there would be a discrepancy in quality between the academics, hospital-based clinicians and those clinicians who were predominantly in practice. I know better than to reveal my findings in a public forum, but I am confident that the stitching detail was of a higher quality than would usually be found on such ceremonial wear.

The names on the current chain only go back to 1999, as the previous chain had been filled, reflecting the length and history of our Society. Looking at the names on it, they start with people who taught me, people I looked up to as a postgraduate when I began my perio journey almost 30 years ago to the day. Then it moves on to people I had come to know through Council, or who I had taught alongside during the stages in which I developed as a periodontist. More recently, there are people whose careers and stature within the specialty I have watched grow in parallel with my own – as they moved from senior registrars to world-renowned professors.

Of course, the reason I had to put my name on the chain is that I get to wear it in just a couple of weeks’ time at the BSP Conference in York. Everything is now in place, and I have to thank Paula and Jo for all the time, effort and attention to detail that goes into organising what is always the highlight of the BSP year.

I am really looking forward to welcoming all of you who are able to make it to York. There is a great programme in store, and I hope the conference will provide plenty of opportunities to learn, debate, catch up with old friends and make new ones. Most importantly, I am confident that everyone attending will come away with some useful clinical tips, a better understanding of the many facets of contemporary periodontology, and – in keeping with this year’s theme – at least some of their periodontal-based questions answered.

It will be a pleasure to see you there, and I look forward to welcoming you to York.

Best wishes

Dr Paul Baker

BSP President 2026