The President’s statement
I am deeply honoured to be your new President. SOMANDA provides a vital additional dimension to the dental careers of colleagues who have trained in Manchester and it is essential that we continue with its work.
We had a very successful meeting in April this year with Phil Newsome coming from Hong Kong to challenge us with the subject “Is Dentistry a Business or a Profession” in which he described the varying marketing strategies used by big business and discussed whether they could, with some modification, apply to Dental Practice.
It proved to be very thought provoking and was well received by all who attended the lecture. SOMANDA is at a crossroads in that I believe it needs to start to appeal to younger graduates of the school by engaging with them in a different way.
You will be pleased to know that the committee is looking to update the website, engaging with social media to communicate with our alumni and increasing our presence in the Dental School in terms of increasing the number, scope and possibly value of undergraduate prizes.
I look forward to leading SOMANDA over the next two years and hopefully meeting many of you during that time.
Paul Brunton.
Party shots 
More party shots 
Year of 1998: Aliya Stretton, Colin Farington and Helena Awuakye. 
More party shots 
More party shots Year of 78. Back row: Dave Woodhouse, Margaret Kellett, Mick O’Grady, Julie Wright, Rick Portrey. Front Row: Tony Welsh, Carolyn Stylianou. 
President Paul Brunton with guest speaker Prof Newsome (on his left) enjoying the dinner. 
Year of 72 Back row: Dick Birkin (wife Deborah), John Mooney (wife Anne), Mrs Plummer, Ian Ainsworth, Steve Ellingham. Front Row: Elaine Ellingham, (née Brinkworth), Barry Clayton, (wife Ann) John Plummer, Jane Ainsworth, (née Twiss), Eddie Janson .