Vet Class Notes Summer 2026

Posted on: 23 July 2026 in Community

Read the latest milestones, achievements, and updates from our veterinary alumni community.

Class Notes

Maurice Allen and his wife Jane have shared a summary of a short but splendid reunion for the Class of 1960 (of 5 members, 2 partners and 3 delightful and interesting widows) organised by Ron Jones. The venue proved ideal and the standard of our evening dinner was excellent. All arrived on the Thursday, with stories from their adventures of assisted travel on the trains.

Drinks kicked the evening off, where absentees were mentioned and best wishes for future health reciprocated to each and everyone. These included Nigel and Sally Milner as Nigel is now wheelchair bound having undergone several attempts at hip replacement. Brian and Jean Shreeve now spend some of their time in a smaller home near Henley, with some support from their family, although Brian does comment on some problems with his balance. Wes and Ann are limited to travel because Wes suffers from cardiac insufficiency. Bas sent best wishes via Ron but is likewise immobile with spinal stenosis. Raoul Westbrook's daughter who has recently married told me some time ago that he now found travelling stressful.

All my contacts asked to pass best wishes for our meeting, which we can now reciprocate via this message. If I have missed or incorrect facts, please let us know.

At the end of our meal, it was a pleasure to learn that one of the waitresses who had served us was about to embark on Veterinary Science at the University of Liverpool, which now has the amazing number of 200 students per year. Our John George days must have been different!!!!

Dr Brian Shreeve (BVSc 1960) passed away peacefully on 10 July 2026, aged 89. After graduating from Liverpool Vet School, Brian began his career in mixed practice, working in Lincolnshire and Southampton before returning to Liverpool to undertake a PhD in investigating the effect of colostrum intake on piglet mortality. Discovering a passion for research, he joined the Moredun Research Institute. He then moved into government service, working initially in the Bacteriology department and then Mycology. Brian made significant contributions to advancing the understanding of Pasteurella and Escheria Coli infections in animals. Rising to become Deputy Director and then Director of Research, he played an influential role in the development of UK government animal health policy in the late 1980s and 1990s. Although Brian took early retirement in 1993, he returned to small animal practice, and continued working well into his seventies before retiring. He remained actively interested in veterinary medicine and continued to attend the regular Class of 1960 reunions with his Liverpool classmates. Brian was a devoted husband, father of four, grandfather of seven, and great-grandfather of two. He found great happiness in family life and a wide range of interests including sailing, birdwatching, natural history, literature, art and astronomy. He will be remembered for his kindness, unwavering optimism and remarkable ability to find the good in every situation.

Professor Mat Reeves (BVSc 1984) and his fellow classmates from the Class of 1984 have come together to create the Veterinary Science Class of 1984 Fund, enabling veterinary science students to undertake an international educational experience as part of their elective rotation. Read more: Class of 1984 Veterinary graduates support transformative travel opportunities for students | Stories | Giving | University of Liverpool

Dr Sean Wensley (BVSc 2003) has been awarded the RCVS Impact Award in recognition of his role in developing the British Veterinary Association’s Animal Welfare Strategy during his tenure as BVA President (2015-16) and his role in replicating this success as Chair of the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe’s Animal Welfare Working Group, which developed a Europe-wide animal welfare strategy in 2021. He was also recognised for his book, Through a vet’s eyes: How we can all choose a better life for animals, that brought the veterinary perspective on animal welfare and advice on how to treat animals better to a public audience.

Peter Harlech Jones (BVSc 1971), Dr Gwen Rees (BVSc 2009) and Katie Ford (BVSc 2012) were made Fellows of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (FRCVS) in November 2025 for meritorious contributions to the profession.

Owen Atkinson (BVSc 1994), Paul Aldridge (BVSc 1995), Jamie McClement (BVSc 2001), Mark Morton (BVSc 2006) and Chris Linney (BVSc 2007) were made a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (FRCVS) in November 2025 in recognition of meritorious contributions to clinical practice.

Anna Pill (BVSc 2026), Johanna Maxwell (BVSc 2020) and Christina Ratcliffe (BVSc 2020) were each recognised at the 30 Under Thirty Awards at the London Vet Show in November 2025. Anna received the award as she was about to enter her final year of veterinary studies at Liverpool Vet School for her role as a careers coach for the University’s Careers Studio. Johanna received the award for her position as an early career leader, serving as Lead Out Of Hours Vet at MiNightVet in the New Forest. Christina received her award for her implementation of new processes aimed at amplifying student voices and removing barriers to support as part of her position as Lecturer in Veterinary Wellbeing and Disability & Neurodiversity Liaison at Surrey Vet School.

Dr Ian Ramsey FRCVS (BVSc 1990) has been awarded the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) Bourgelat Award 2026, the BSAVA’s primary recognition for outstanding international contributions to the fields of small animal practice or science. As the recipient of the 2026 Bourgelat Award, Ian delivered the 2026 Bourgelat Award Lecture, The Weird and Wonderful World of Endocrinology, online on 22nd April 2026. During the lecture, Ian presented a selection of rare and memorable endocrine cases that he has seen over the years. The lecture is available to watch back in the BSAVA Webinar Library.

Community Updates

It is with great sadness that we share the recent passing of Emeritus Professor Stuart Carter. Stuart joined the University of Liverpool in 1985, becoming a Lecturer in Immunology in what was then the Faculty of Veterinary Science. He was made Professor in Veterinary Immunology in 2002. As an Emeritus Professor, Stuart remained academically active in farm animal infectious disease research. His passing was unexpected and he will be sorely missed by his colleagues. Those who would like to read a tribute from Mark Senior, Dean of the School, or share their own memories of Stuart are invited to do so: Tribute to Hon. Prof. Stuart Carter, 1952 - 2026

Dr Robert Campbell MRCVS, former Senior Lecturer in Primary Care at the University of Liverpool’s School of Veterinary Science, has been awarded the RCVS Compassion Award for his work as Schwartz Rounds Lead at the University. Schwartz Rounds are confidential group forums where staff and students can come together to talk about and reflect on the emotional aspects of their work with a view to improving wellbeing. 

Henry Cloete has won at the British Small Animals Veterinary Association Clinical Research Abstract Awards 2026. Henry won Outstanding Oral Abstract Presentation for his presentation Risk factors associated with the development of suspected feline injection site sarcomas identified in a sentinel network of UK primary care veterinary practices. Henry is a Small Animal Internal Medicine resident at the University of Liverpool Small Animal Teaching Hospital.

“It is particularly rewarding to see this work recognised, as it reflects a collaborative effort between researchers, clinicians, and the veterinary practices and pet owners contributing data through SAVSNET.”

After nearly 19 years, Dr Pete Milner will be leaving the Vet School. Many of you will remember Pete from your time at Vet School, whether it be through lameness investigation clinics by day, or an emergency colic visit in the middle of the night. Pete shared: "It has been a privilege to have worked for such an esteemed institution, and I have been proud to have been involved in the training and development of many vet students, interns, residents, PhD and other postgraduate students for whom I hope I have helped in some small way."