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Charity workers and scientists honoured by the Queen
obe
Two charity workers received MBEs for services to animal welfare.
Recipients of the Queen's New Year's Honours revealed

Numerous charity workers and scientists have been recognised for services to animal health and welfare in the Queen's New Year's Honours 2015, including Professor Venugopal Nair - head of the Avian Viral Diseases Programme at the Pirbright Institute.

Professor Nair was awarded an OBE for his involvement with the programme, which is currently focused on viruses that cause avian influenza, infectious bronchitis and Marek's disease. Working in partnership with vaccine producers, the project aims to develop more effective vaccines.

The founder of The Swan Sanctuary in Shepperton was one of two charity workers to receive an MBE - Dorothy Beeson was recognised for her work rescuing and rehabilitating swans.

Anne Owen, founder of the North Clwyd Animal Rescue Centre also received an MBE for services to animal health and welfare.

Among those to receive BEMs were:
  • Valerie Margaret Allen - for voluntary services to Rider and Equine Safety
  • Ruth Boyes - for services to the charity Pets as Therapy
  • Lance Cruse - for services to the protection of endangered species in the course of his work as a Border Force officer
  • Patricia Anne Dobbin and Louise Greer - for services to the charity Riding for the Disabled
  • Elizabeth Edwards, a research scientist at the John Innes Centre and volunteer for the Norfolk Wildlife Trust - for services to the environment and the public understanding of science
  • Trevor Llewellyn Richards, lately capital project liaison officer at the University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine - for services to biomedical research and the welfare of animals in research

 

Image Wikimedia Commons/Robert Pummel/CC BY 2.5

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BSAVA partners with BVA Live 2026

News Story 1
 BSAVA is to partner with BVA Live (11-12 June 2026) to champion clinical research.

The organisation will be supporting BVA Live's Clinical Abstracts programme, showcasing selected abstracts of veterinary research throughout the event.

The clinical abstracts can be on any small animal veterinary subject, and must be based on research undertaken in industry, practice or academia. Abstracts can be presented in poster or oral formats.

Submissions will open on 15th December 2025, and close on 6th March 2026. You can register interest here

Click here for more...
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Nominations open for RCVS and VN Council elections

The nomination period for the 2026 RCVS Council and VN Council elections is now open, with three veterinary surgeon seats and two veterinary nurse seats available.

Prospective candidates can download an information pack and nomination form from the RCVS website. Individuals can nominate themselves for the elections, with the results to be announced in the spring.

Clare Paget, the recently appointed RCVS Registrar and elections returning officer, said: "If you want to play your part in influencing and moulding how the professions are regulated, and making key decisions on matters of great importance to your peers, the public and animal health and welfare, please consider standing for RCVS Council or VN Council next year."

Nominations close at 5pm on Saturday, 31 January 2026.