In Memoriam: Dr Sharon Orton-Gibbs, Class of 1979

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Dr Sharon Orton-Gibbs, who was killed in a traffic accident while cycling in France on the 20th of June 2025  

After graduating from LEH in 1979, Sharon went on to study dentistry at Bristol before embarking on a distinguished career that touched countless lives. She began her professional journey in North London and later completed her orthodontic training at the Eastman Dental Hospital in 1986. She subsequently took up a post as Consultant Orthodontist at St Helier University Hospital in Surrey, where she served as Lead Clinician for eleven years, building a department held in the highest regard. 

Alongside her hospital work, Sharon devoted more than twenty-one years to her community practice. In 2014, she took over her father’s orthodontic practice on Walpole Road in Thames Ditton. One of only 260 consultant-level orthodontists in the UK, Sharon was known for combining clinical excellence with deep and genuine kindness, a rare and much valued quality. 

Sharon was also a passionate educator, lecturing both nationally and internationally. In retirement, she continued to give her time generously through voluntary work with the NSPCC, delivering safety talks in schools. She had an exceptional ability to make people feel welcome and valued, and her warmth, humour and compassion were felt by all who knew her. 

Beyond her professional life, Sharon was an accomplished artist and musician. She had a great love of France, which she shared with her family through skiing, cycling, walking and paddleboarding. 

She is survived by her husband Chris, their children Sam and Abi, and her beloved grandchildren. 

Sharon will be remembered with love, gratitude and the deepest admiration.