Page 21 - link magazine

Swindon Wide

Dentist Brendon Ball looks back at 31 years’ of helping people smile

From The Archives with Link staff and government people has
founder Roger Ogle eased access to the country and
When newly trained dentist we are now highly regarded in the
Brendon Ball made the long journey Cherkassy region.”
to Britain from his native New Three of the trips involved
Zealand in the mid-1970s, he spent delivering redundant dental
some time studying an AA road map caravans and a mobile dental truck
and plumped for Swindon because donated by local health authorities.
it was ‘sort of in the middle.’ It meant services could be taken to
After setting up a successful remote parts of Cherkassky which
business in West Swindon and a is the size of Wales. Brendon and
home in Wiltshire, he retired at the Smile Menders’ volunteers had to
end of 2016, returning for a surprise equip each mobile surgery, insulate
party on 14 January attended them against the harsh winters in
by former patients and staff at Ukraine, and he had to purchase
Freshbrook Dental Practice. right hand drive tow vehicles.
Brendon worked as a dentist in Brendon jokingly blames Link
Penhill when he first arrived, but his magazine for helping his marital
intention was always to set up his status after he met and fell in love
own practice. with his translator Natasha, on
He said: “I quickly became aware his first trip to Ukraine, whom he
of Swindon’s growth to the west married in 2000.
and saw an opportunity to provide They will continue to visit Ukraine
dental services. Council planners as Natasha’s mother still lives there.
first suggested a site in Toothill Brendon with practice manager Jayne Hall who has taken over the business “It’s been a privilege to look after
but then directed me to Freshbrook such a nice group of patients in
Village Centre which was on the treatment was £14.50. But a week being so far away from home Freshbrook,” said Brendon.
drawing board.” after moving to the new building in New Zealand made me more “Some have been with me since I
Anybody who knows Freshbrook at the village centre in 1985, NHS connected with the people coming arrived in Swindon and I’ve been the
centre will have wondered why subsidy for dental work was slashed to see me.” dentist for three or four generations
there is a bright blue tall triangle of and patients were faced with Brendon and Link magazine have in some families. I received some
a building at its midst, but Brendon treatment charges of up to £115. been closely connected since he lovely cards of appreciation before I
is keen for people to know it was “That was a very rocky time arrived in Swindon and in 1998 departed at the end of December.”
not his choice. because suddenly patients stayed he read an article about the work Freshbrook Dental Practice is
“The planners at Swindon asked away in their droves,” said Brendon. of the charity Dentaid in Ukraine now in the ownership of practice
me to provide three proposals and I “The financial pressures on people which was providing surgical help manager Jayne Hall, which has
drew the layout floorplan to fit the were enormous because mortgage to children born with a cleft palate. delighted Brendon. “I was honoured
plot and my architect came up with interest rates had hit 17 per cent, Brendon made his first trip that Jayne decided to take on the
two conventional designs, and we which is unbelievable today.” with medical supplies to Ukraine business; she has considerable
stuck in a third throwaway idea,” However patients started to return in support of Dented in 1999. He experience in dentistry and knows
he said. after a few months and while discovered treatment was given the needs of patients. Chris Richards
“We were dumbstruck when Brendon started wholly within the without pain killers and found continues as a dentist in the
they chose the triangle and also NHS, in 1996 after continuous almost no dental health advice. practice and I’ve met Webber Emile
advised the colour it should be; changes in NHS treatment levels, He quickly set up his own charity and the other part-time dentists
it was something about making a he decided to make the practice - Smile Menders - with plans to who are arriving to replace me.”
building memorable so people could a private provision, offering a help improve dental services in Apart from his charitable work,
navigate the suburbs.” discount rate for patients’ children. the country. Now, after seven trips Brendon is rediscovering his passion
When it opened in Cottington Brendon explained: “For me, the to supply materials and provide for motorcycle restoration. He is
Close, the practice quickly acquired service was not about satisfying training to local dentists, he says also planning a trip to the Isle of
a large patient list. At the time the numbers. My patients were more the difference is huge. Man TT races this summer and is
maximum NHS charge for dental family rather than clients. Perhaps “Our contact with senior dental considering a visit to New Zealand.

Naming a dog is less of a slog... with poetry like Pom and Dom You can see the video on vimeo.

black Labrador from a friend who to hear how they went com/180018813.
Poetry column by Poetry Swindon’s couldn’t get on with the dog. and even tried Bomb There are several other films that
Maurice Spillane
The dog was called “Tom” and we in an Irish accent, are popular, “Mallow County Cork”
couldn’t use that name, as you will but they didn’t fool us has a big following. Enjoy!
Have you ever seen a see in the poem, so we renamed and wouldn’t fool Tom • Open Mic is on Monday
poetry film? him: so we called him Rocky. 13 February from 6pm at Richard
It’s a modern way We got a black lab The video was made by my two Jefferies Museum
of linking both media ten months on grandchildren and me and we had • We have a Masterclass
and it’s certainly to who came with a name, a hoot making it. It’s only a minute for poets with the wonderful Kim
the advantage of poetry. named Tom. long. We had more trouble with Moore on Sunday 12 March at
Anything that makes poetry more But my wife has a son the adult in it than we did with the 10am
accessible works for me. who died at six, children and the dog. • Open Mic is on at
The film I would like to share very much loved This year I will be making more the Beehive Pub on Tuesday 14
with you is called “Rocket Tom.” and he’s called Tom. poetry films with A level students February at 7:30pm
The background is that I bought a So we bent some rhyme so watch this space. Book at www.poetryswindon.org

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