2025 ULVAA Summer Class Notes

Posted on: 28 August 2025 in Community

Updates from fellow alumni

Professor John Innes (BVSc 1991) has received an Impact Award from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. He was nominated for his role in developing, validating and promoting the use of client-reported outcomes measures in canine orthopaedics and chronic musculoskeletal pain. His method – ‘Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs’ – is now widely used internationally by researchers and practitioners.

Gwenllian Rees (BVSc 2009), now a lecturer at Aberystwyth University’s School of Veterinary Science, has been named a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. Gwenllian leads the award-winning Veterinary Prescribing Champions Network for Arwain DGC – a collaborative initiative bringing together academics, vets, and the animal health industry in Wales to help tackle antimicrobial resistance. She is also Senior Vice President of the British Veterinary Association’s Welsh Branch and a Trustee of the Animal Welfare Foundation. Responding to being named a fellow, Gwenllian shared: “I’m very proud to be awarded this Fellowship. It’s a privilege to be recognised alongside so many inspiring colleagues who are making a real difference across the profession. I’m passionate about advancing veterinary science and education, and I look forward to contributing to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons’ work in promoting excellence and supporting the future of veterinary care.”

James Taylor (BVSc 2019) has been appointed Junior Vice President of BVA Welsh branch. James shared, "It is an honour to be nominated as the new Junior Vice President of BVA Welsh branch; I am excited to build on my role as the regional representative and continue to champion the views of Welsh vets during a period of change across the industry. I hope that my background in small animal clinical work will serve me well in dealing with the consequences of the upcoming CMA verdict and the Welsh government's move towards a greyhound racing ban. I will also be working closely with my colleagues to tackle the big issues affecting Welsh vets every day, with the emergence of bluetongue, avian influenza and ongoing fight against TB set against the background of a new Sustainable Farming Scheme and potential changes to the Veterinary Surgeons Act. I welcome any correspondence from fellow alumni within or without Wales regarding these – or other – issues and look forward to continuing to work closely with the BVA over the next few years. Diolch yn fawr."

Reunions

Class of 1960

“The Class of 1960 graduates met at The Queens at Chester Hotel for their 65th anniversary reunion. The first evening consisted of drinks in a private room followed by dinner in the dining room. A toast for 65+ years of fellowship and continuing friendship (among those present and absent) was drunk.

On Friday, we enjoyed an open deck bus tour of Chester with outstandingly clear and informative commentary, before returning to hotel for lunch. In the afternoon we experienced a short boat trip on the River Dee, again in the sunshine, to see the many grand properties, old and new, along the riverside. The day trips reminded me of my schooldays in Chester pre-1955!

On Saturday morning after breakfast, we departed, with thoughts already turning to plans for our next reunion…”

Thank you to reunion organisers Emeritus Professor Ron Jones and Dr Maurice Allen.

Class of 1965

“A group of vets who graduated 60 years ago met in Liverpool to celebrate the occasion.

Unlike today, where a cohort is about two hundred with over 80% of students being female, our year consisted of thirty-six with only six women. Working closely together, and in many cases living together in Halls of Residence or flats, particularly for the final year at Leahurst, meant we formed close friendships and have stayed in touch over the years.

The onset of old(ish) age has meant we have lost dear friends and others were not able to attend for health or other reasons, so this year we were a small group of nine plus partners. We stayed at the lovely Hope Street Hotel, an easy stroll from the main campus.

The building in which we spent much of our first four years (which was brand new at the beginning of 1961, we were its first occupants!) is no longer, having been demolished several years ago. A large student accommodation block now occupies the site where steam trains once passed in a deep cutting directly in front of the building – steam trains which many of us used to travel back and forth into Liverpool.

On the first evening we relived our student experience by dining at the Philharmonic Pub. The next day we had lunch at the Waterhouse Cafe in the Victoria Museum & Gallery where we were met by Professor Paul Lunn, Dean of the Vet School.

Professor Lunn kindly guided us around the buildings which now house the School of Veterinary Science and its teaching labs. Teaching methods have changed out of all recognition, using modern technology to accommodate the needs of the large year groups. Familiar buildings remain though – the Victoria Museum & Gallery of course, the Harold Cohen Library and the Students’ Union building.

That evening we had dinner in a private room at the Hope Street Hotel, where we reminisced and remembered absent friends. We left for home the next morning with a strong suggestion that we meet up again next year, so who knows what next year will bring?”

Thank you to reunion organiser Professor Agnes Winter.

Class of 2000

“We enjoyed a fantastic reunion filled with laughter, joy, and heartfelt reminiscing. It was wonderful to reconnect with classmates after 25-years and share beautiful memories and stories from our time in Liverpool and at Leahurst.

From the emotional reconnection during a delicious lunch at the Philharmonic Pub, to a University of Liverpool campus tour, and a tour at Leahurst with Dean Professor Paul Lunn, we were blessed to meet each other after so long and feel togetherness once again.”

Thank you to reunion organiser Darrell Nazareth.

Class of 2015

"The Liverpool Vet Class of 2015 celebrated their reunion with a memorable weekend full of learning, nostalgia, and reconnection. Alumni enjoyed engaging lectures from Erin O’Connell on diabetes and Rob Pettitt on an update on orthopaedics, followed by tours of the Leahurst campus and a scenic farm walk led by Rob Smith. The afternoon included a relaxing visit and tour of Ness Gardens. The day concluded with an elegant evening of dinner and dancing at Thornton Hall. Sunday featured a lecture by Rob Smith on AI in cattle lameness, rounded off with time to catch up and a traditional roast dinner. The weekend was a great success and we look forward to future reunions."

Thank you to reunion organisers Nicola Rolfe, Rachel Steele and Anna Mawston.

Updates from the School

VetFest

The second year of VetFest was a huge success! Despite some slightly dodgy weather, the crowds swelled – 3,066 counted through the gate, slightly higher than last year’s inaugural event. Things went off without a hitch, which is a massive credit to everyone from the School, and from central University teams, who worked so hard to pull this off. Above all, a big thank you to Jen Hughes for organising this event, which has now become a big part of Wirral life.

There are plans for VetFest in July 2026, and we invite our alumni to consider a return visit to the School of Veterinary Science – either as a reunion, or as a fun family day out on the Wirral!

School of Veterinary Science Careers Fair

ULVAA committee members attended the Liverpool University Veterinary Society Careers Fair back in May. Handing out goodies to current students, it was a great opportunity to share career journeys and the power of alumni networks.

If you’d like to showcase your compan,y or graduate opportunities, at the Careers Fair next year, get in touch via ulvaa@liverpool.ac.uk to be connected with LUVS Reps.