Autumn 2025

Richard and Mandy

Richard Retiring at Christmas

We are both excited for him and sad for us that our long-term Dentist, Richard Stephenson, is retiring from dentistry this Christmas. With a big birthday this year, and his wife Mandy retiring at Christmas too, Richard felt that the end of 2025 would be the right time to hang up his loupes. We will miss him so much!

We are delighted though to announce the appointment of highly-respected dentist, Rebecca Jones, who joins the Practice in January to look after Richard’s patients. Read more about Becky below.

Richard’s reflections

“It is with great sadness that I am ending my career in dentistry after 41 years of helping people with their dental health. Spending the last eleven of those years at the Borough Dental practice has been a wonderful finale.”

Richard (centre) at Dental School

“Starting out in the 1980s in Bristol, when a large proportion of the population had no teeth at all, I eventually settled in the New Forest. Spending thirty years working in the NHS, I have witnessed a great many improvements in dental care.”

 “The Borough Dental Practice has embraced those new innovations, techniques and materials to enable the provision of the very best patient care. To see the Practice evolve from one consulting room in 2014 to the four consulting rooms of today has been wonderful to be a part of. I’ve been honoured to work with so many talented colleagues.”

 “I will miss all my lovely patients and work colleagues, of course, and wish them well in the future. I’ll be returning to The Borough as a patient and will hopefully meet many familiar faces in the waiting room.”

 Jenny Wordley, owner of the Practice, said:-

“I was so privileged to have Richard as my boss for a decade in Fordingbridge. He is the loveliest man and a wonderful dentist. So when I started my own Practice and we grew to the stage that we could take on another dentist, Richard was always going to be my first choice to ask. I am so glad he decided to join us at The Borough Dental Practice. We have had a lot of fun over the years and I will miss him enormously.”  

We are also slightly in awe of Richard’s athleticism! Ever since he joined, he has cycled the 30 miles or so a day to and from work to his home near Ringwood in literally all weathers, with not even freezing cold or torrential rain deterring him. But as Richard explains, it has been a great joy to him.

 “Working in Downton I’ve been able to cycle to work from near Ringwood through the beautiful New Forest and witness the changing seasons pass each year. Amazingly, I’ve logged over 33,000 miles…and worn out a few tyres!”

 “Mandy are I are looking forward to having more time for family and exploring the countryside on foot and by bicycle.”

I am sure all our patients will join us in wishing Richard every happiness for the future.

We have a retirement book on reception for anyone who would like to write Richard a message, or email the Practice and we will insert it!

Welcome Becky!

We are delighted that highly regarded Dorset Dentist, Rebecca Jones, is joining The Borough Dental Practice in January 2026!

Becky will be taking on most of Richard’s patients, as well as having some capacity for new patients too.

Becky qualified from Cardiff University in 2003, receiving the year group prize for clinical excellence. Becky has since continued to develop her skills and experience by enrolling in some of the most prestigious and demanding post-graduate studies. In 2009, Becky completed her MJDF examination and in doing so gained membership of the Royal College of Surgeons. She then went on to study at the renowned Eastman Dental Institute in London where she obtained a Post Graduate Certificate in Restorative Dentistry. Despite all these qualifications though, Becky is best known for her lovely, gentle manner – one Richard is confident his patients will appreciate:-

“I am thrilled that Becky is joining the Practice. She and I have such a similar philosophy towards patient care and I know that she will provide an exemplary service to my former patients. Indeed, Becky was kind enough to provide some locum cover for me when I was ill a few years ago, and she was so popular with patients and staff that I think Jenny and Luke have been looking for an opportunity to offer her a permanent role ever since!”

Richard and Becky at a recent Borough team away day!

Indeed, when Richard gave us the nod that he was planning to retire, Becky was our absolute first choice to take on Richard’s patients. And we are so glad that she has chosen to join us. Becky added:- “I am delighted to be joining The Borough Dental Practice. I have been very happy in my current practice with lovely colleagues and a group of patients who I will miss very much. However, the opportunity to work at such a state-of-the-art, family-owned Practice with the reputation Jenny and her team enjoy for providing outstanding patient care was just one I had to take. I look forward to meeting all my new patients and I can’t wait to get started. I’m only sad I’m not going to get to work with Richard!”

Becky’s appointment book is now open for new patients. Richard’s patients (and appointments) will be transferred automatically. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the practice on 01725 510303.

Mouth Cancer Awareness Month

This November, The Borough Dental Practice will be promoting ‘Mouth Cancer Awareness Month’. Mouth Cancer is an increasingly prevalent and very serious cancer. Last year, there were 10,825 new cases in the UK alone – a 3-fold increase over the last 40 years – with tragically ten people dying every day due to mouth cancer. It is now the 8^th most common cancer with 78% of new cases in the ‘over 55 year old’ category.

If caught early, there is a five-year survival rate of 80%, which is one of the reasons why the dentists at The Borough always thoroughly check your mouth for signs of oral cancer during every examination. We are also keen to raise mouth cancer awareness and reducing risk factors amongst our patients and their families. So during November, we will be promoting mouth cancer awareness through leaflets in our waiting room and talking to patients about how to self-check. If you are not visiting the Practice during November, but would like to know about risk factors, signs and symptoms and how to self-check, please visit https://www.mouthcancerfoundation.org/ .

If you are ever anxious about anything unusual that appears in your mouth, such as a non-healing ulcer or a red and white patch, please ring the practice to book an appointment.

Focus on Africa

The Borough Dental Practice were delighted in the summer to sponsor Richard Budworth’s daughter Emilia to take part in a school-building project in rural Tanzania. She writes:-

‘The whole experience was fantastic. The children and local community were wonderful to spend time with. The work was hard and hot, but we managed to get a lot done. I am still having dreams about making cement! Nevertheless, I had the most amazing time, made lifelong friends and it helped me realise humanitarian work is a career I would like to follow.’ 

Musana

The Borough Dental Practice owner, Jenny Wordley, is a trustee of Musana UK – a partner Organisation of Musana – one of the fastest growing Community Development Organisations in Africa. Turning the traditional Western Aid model on its head, Musana improves the lives and restores the dignity of whole communities in Uganda by helping them take responsibility for their own futures through enterprise and entrepreneurism. Ugandan-led, Musana’s numerous enterprises are now some of the fastest-growing and most respected across Uganda, employing nearly 1,000 people and generating substantial locally-generated profits which then fund disadvantaged people from nearby communities to access health and education services.

On November 11^th, Musana’s Founders, Haril and Andrea Kazindra will be speaking at a reception in the House of Commons, sharing how locally-led, income-generating solutions are transforming lives and creating lasting, generational impact. If you are interested in hearing more about this extraordinary organisation and its work at this prestigious venue in London, please contact gemmasmith@nullmusana.org

For more information about Musana’s work, please visit https://musana.org

Liv Wordley runs New Forest half-marathon for Musana!

On Sunday 14^th September, Borough Dental Nurse, Liv Wordley and her friend Sophie ran the New Forest half marathon in aid of Musana, achieving Liv’s pre-race goal of ‘running’ all the way! So far, they have raised nearly 80% of their £800 target! If you would like to support her efforts, please visit their fundraising page found at:- https://www.gofundme.com/f/half-marathon-for-musana-sophie-and-liv

Musana Pop-Up Shop for Christmas

The Musana Pop-up Shop will once again be making an appearance at the Practice in November and December, selling incredible hand-made bags and other products made by women at one of Musana’s Women Empowerment Centres. Please bring cash, including change!

And Finally!

To Richard and Mandy! We raise you a glass and wish you every happiness in your retirement!

With best wishes,

Jenny