Association welcomes Robin Hargreaves as new president

In a ceremony at the BVA Members' Day on September 26, Lancashire-based small animal vet Robin Hargreaves was elected president of the association for 2013/14.

During his inaugural speech as president, Mr Hargreaves said his theme for the coming year would be trust.

"As a profession we enjoy a tremendous degree of trust from the people we deal with," he said. "This is no accident. For generations veterinary surgeons have followed through on their promises and built up a legacy of faith in our profession.

"Meeting students and recent graduates this last year I have complete confidence in the future of our profession but they will come under many pressures and we must always be there to provide support and guidance."

Born and raised on a hill farm in the Yorkshire Dales, Mr Hargreaves has been a member of the BVA since his student days, when he studied at the University of Liverpool Veterinary School.

Graduating in 1985, he joined a two-vet mixed practice in Shropshire before moving on to a small animal practice in Leeds and then finally settling in Colne, where he is the director of Stanley House Vets.

During his time with the BVA, Mr Hargreaves has been a chairman of the BVA's Member Services' Group and facilitated recent graduate meetings in the North West.

Outgoing president Peter Jones spoke during the event of the challenges he faced during his time leading the association, including promoting the responsible use of antimicrobials, getting to grips with bovine TB policy and the pilot badger culls.

The event, which was the first annual BVA Members' Day, also saw Shropshire vet John Blackwell welcomed as president elect of the association, as well as a keynote speech from Defra's secretary of state, Owen Paterson.

Home page image: BVA officers from left, past BVA president Peter Jones, president Robin Hargreaves and president elect John Blackwell.