David Pearl – ColA 53-59

Submitted by Paul Wade

David Pearl passed away peacefully on October 3, 2025. He was 83. After CH, he trained at the London Hospital and went on to be an outstanding dentist: Bachelor of Dental Surgery (London),  Fellowship of Dental Surgery (Royal College of Surgeons). He also held a Licence in Homeopathy. As he strived to make the dental experience as pain-free and relaxed as possible, he explored both the latest dental technology and alternative medicine. No wonder he was much loved by thousands of patients, as much for his sympathy and humour as his skill.

He was also known for his wacky humour, usually involving terrible Tommy Cooper-style jokes, often when treating friends in the dentist’s chair. Somehow, he managed to produce the punchline when their mouths were full of dental gadgets. Another talent was drawing cartoons, sending out individual hand-drawn and coloured birthday and Christmas cards. Many are treasured and framed for display … even if they are in the loo! And he always loved rugby, first as a player and then as a spectator.

He retired to Somerset. Despite the onset of Parkinson’s, he was determined to stay involved, volunteering at Barrington Court (National Trust). Sadly, his Parkinson’s triggered dementia and he spent his last years in a care home.

Back in his Coleridge A days, he was popular for his sporting ability (a good centre and useful opening bowler) and as an excellent mimic, remembered for “doing” Kit Aitken, his housemaster. When rock ‘n’ roll hit the UK in the mid-Fifties, his contemporaries recall how David worked on his Elvis hairstyle, his moves and his curled lip (even if we all thought he looked, er, silly!) And he loved his music, first as a drummer in the School Band, and later, playing his very rock’n’roll star Stratocaster guitar.

David was married twice. He is survived by his second wife, Margaret, and also by his first wife, Pam, their two children, Emma and Robert, and five grandchildren.

David Pearl in 1956.