Alexander Cockburn was born in Galashiels in 1928 and qualified in dentistry in Edinburgh in 1949.
Following National Service and a period in general practice he undertook postgraduate training in the three Scottish Dental Schools and was awarded the following diplomas: HDD, DDO, FDS RCPSG and FDS RCSEd.
He was Senior Registrar and subsequently Consultant in Orthodontics at Glasgow Dental Hospital and School with responsibility also for Argyll and Forth Valley. His primary interest was postgraduate training using the treatment methods of North America and Australia. Major advisory and administrative roles included the Chairmanship of the Scottish Committee for Hospital Dental Services, membership of the Scottish Office Advisory Committee for Dental Establishments and membership of the General Dental Council.
He was President of The Royal Odonto-Chirurgical Society of Scotland (1981-82) and of Glasgow Odontological Society (1989-90). In 1986, at the request of College Council he chaired a working party to explore the possibility of developing specialty postgraduate examinations in dentistry.]]>