For all those that knew him
When Joe Fraser passed away early this year, he left behind a devoted family and many friends and colleagues, as well as a legacy as a great veterinary surgeon and teacher. His funeral, held on 19th January, was attended by a vast number of colleagues and friends from a collection of Veterinary School and practices from across the country, and the size of the congregation was symbolic of the respect and affection he commanded during his lifetime.
Born on the 16th May 1928, Joseph Athol Fraser grew up near Stirling. In his youth he attended Dollar Academy and completed his National Service with the Black Watch Regiment, before taking the first step in his veterinary career. In October 1949 he entered The Royal (Dick) Veterinary College in Edinburgh to study for Membership of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (MRCVS).
During his years studying there, the College was absorbed into the University of Edinburgh and Joe was a regular fixture on the sports scene, playing an active role in the rescue of the “Dick Vet” sports section from being incorporated into the University Sports Union. The 'Dick Vet Rugby Song' – for adults' ears only – will surely be ingrained in the memory of many a contemporary student! But as an undergraduate under the tutelage of John Burgess - a legend in his own right - Joe also discovered his love of surgery, in particular that pertaining to equine work. Following his graduation in 1954, Joe joined John's staff in the Department of Veterinary Surgery as he began his lifelong career at the Royal (Dick) School.
For forty years, Joe reigned over students and junior staff alike, his surgical expertise and his growing authority in the field of large animal surgery and orthopaedics ensuring a steady stream of referral cases to the Dick Vet School from all over Scotland and Northern England. He was held in high esteem by all his clients, fellow staff and those he taught. Many students recall the onset of dread if they had not studied their notes before his class, as well as his reaction to an incorrect answer – that “momentary silence and the gradually elevating eyebrows!” But, in testament to Joe's skill as teacher and mentor, many of his former students continued to contact Joe for advice long after qualifying, and he was always happy to hand out his expert help to those who asked.
As his career progressed, Joe specialised more and more in equine orthopaedics and was awarded the RCVS Diploma in the subject, an RCVS Fellowship and became an RCVS postgraduate examiner in the area. All his clients valued his skill very highly, including Her Majesty the Queen, whose horses at Balmoral came under his care on multiple occasions.
Not only a favourite of clients and students, Joe also received recognition from the Worshipful Company of Farriers of London who awarded him an honorary membership in light of his advocation of good farriery and the friendship and mutual respect he built up amongst the farrier community. For example, one of his initiatives was the founding of a small Farriery Museum in the Veterinary Field Station. He was also fundamental in the development of the fledgling British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) and, alongside Gordon Ferguson, helped organise the 1972 BEVA Congress in Edinburgh.
His dry wit and pithy observations often made for amusing tales and he was frequently in demand as an after-dinner speaker, a task to which he took with much alacrity! His off-duty moments encompassed a love of horse-racing, other equine events and gardening, as well as a passion for golf which he had hoped to indulge after his retirement, before he suffered the stroke from which he never fully recovered.
In the latter years of his life, Joe suffered from ill-health and the last few weeks of his life were spent in Liberton Hospital, Edinburgh, where he died on the 10th January 2012.
It goes without saying that he will be greatly missed by all those that knew him.
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With thanks to Padraic Dixon, David Shannon and Neil Wilson for providing information.
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
