Welcome to the Veterinary Science Class of 2026

Posted on: 23 July 2026 in Community

Congratulations to the Class of 2026, who joined the veterinary profession on Thursday 16 July. It is always special to see five years of hard work and dedication acknowledged in the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, followed by the RCVS Swearing-In Ceremony in the Sherrington Lecture Theatre and a celebration on the lawns of the Leahurst campus.

The Class of 2026 are now officially members of the University of Liverpool Veterinary Alumni Association (ULVAA).

ULVAA aims to:

• Provide a supportive community of veterinary graduates
• Keep veterinary graduates connected with the School and one another
• Help the next generation of vets (i.e. you!) thrive.

ULVAA are also behind the John Tandy Final Year Student Award, and we’re excited to announce this years’ recipient…

John Tandy Final Year Student Award

This year the John Tandy Final Year Student Award was awarded to Lucy Brotherton (BVSc 2026).

The award, launched in 2018 as the University of Liverpool Veterinary Alumni Association Final Year Student Award, was renamed to commemorate John Tandy (BVSc 1957). John was an enthusiastic supporter of the School of Veterinary Science and its students and was a constant on the ULVAA Committee until just before his death.

Nominations are submitted by peers in recognition of the outstanding contribution made by a final-year student to student life at the School of Veterinary Science. The criteria for award embody what John was all about: a student whom contemporaries feel has contributed most to the student community.

Lucy was nominated by her fellow students, who shared: “We met Lucy during our farm rotations group in our final year of Vet School. I didn’t know Lucy very well before starting final year – all I knew was that her reputation preceded her for being kind and an all-round lovely person. Having got to know her through rotations, I can only say how much this reputation spoke truth to her character and qualities that will make her a fantastic veterinary surgeon.

Throughout final year, Lucy has contributed to the Vet School community in her role as President of the Vet Yoga Society. This involved her liaising with the premises team at Neston Town Hall, organising the yoga instructor, communicating with clinical students regarding weekly sessions, and being the face of the Society. Attendance at weekly yoga has been as high as 15-20 students per session, which is an increase on previous years. This growth serves as a testament to her hard work and dedication to the wellbeing of our community.

Lucy has also shown commitment to the Vet School Choir and Leahurst Run Club. With the Vet School Choir, Lucy attended weekly rehearsals in the run up to the Leahurst Carol Service and is also often out running with the Run Club. She has also been a key instigator in organising group activities within our farm rotations group with running, paddle boarding and beach trips, to name a few examples.

Lucy’s kindness and generosity don’t stop with the Vet School; she also a volunteers at a foodbank in Liverpool. She is an extremely selfless individual.”

On winning the award, Lucy shared: “Receiving the John Tandy Final Year Student Award was a real surprise. I am incredibly grateful to everyone who nominated me; it means a lot to have been recognised alongside such an amazing group of students. 

One of the things I will remember most about my final year is the sense of community within our cohort. Rotations gave us the chance to work with so many different people, and it was amazing to get to know my peers who I hadn’t spent so much time with before. Everyone brought their own perspectives, experiences and stories, and there was always something new to learn from each other whether on clinics or hanging out between rotations. 

Helping to organise the Vet Yoga Society was one of the highlights of my time at Liverpool. It was rewarding to create a space where people could take a break from the demands of the course, look after their wellbeing and spend time together outside of studying. 

Graduation was a wonderful way to celebrate everything we have achieved together. I am excited to see where everyone’s careers take them next. I’ll always be grateful for the friendships, support and memories from my time at Liverpool. The next steps for me involve taking a couple of months off to embark on a ceramics course in Japan before I start my Farm Vet career! 

Congratulations to the Class of 2026 on everything we’ve achieved together. It has been a privilege to learn alongside such a supportive, talented and kind group of people. I wish everyone the very best as we begin the next chapter, and I hope our paths cross again in the future."