Page 77 - Eclipse - RVC Alumni Magazine - Autumn 2020

Mike was not a shrinking violet and his Englishness was evident. He was something of a character, with a forthright, yet gentlemanly, manner; he wasn’t afraid to bring up difficult issues at meetings. He was also quirky, with some intriguing interests, such as collecting ear spoons from traditional communities all over the world.
He was a keen fly fisherman in retirement and probably spent many of his happiest hours on the rivers near his home.
He believed firmly in the importance of the role of vets in conservation and the role of disease in determining populations’ fortunes, despite a slight reluctance among ecologists and biologists to accept this reality. He helped to put health and disease of wildlife on the map and was a leader for the growing community of vets involved in wildlife around the world.
He published some useful early manuals on disease risks, translocation and postmortem examination of wildlife. He also contributed a large number of articles on a variety of subjects, including the reduction of prolapses in lions; tuberculosis of buffalo in Queen Elizabeth National Park Uganda; the haematology of elephants; Sarcoptes in the blue sheep of the high mountains of Afghanistan and Pakistan; and the impact of biowarfare on biodiversity.
He leaves two daughters and a son John, who followed in his footsteps and works as an international vet in many continents.
Mike was a respected colleague, and his presence will be greatly missed in the global wildlife and veterinary community.
DR MUHAMMAD KHALID DVM, MSC, PHD
By Claire Wathes, Ali Fouladi, Ken Smith, David Church, Richard Booth, Steven van Winden, John Fishwick
It is with great sadness that we report the death of Dr Mohammad Khalid on
23rd October 2020 from a COVID-related illness. Khalid joined the RVC as a lecturer in 1999, being promoted to senior lecturer in 2006 and retiring at the end of 2019, so he was a much-valued member of RVC staff for 20 years.
Khalid started his career in Pakistan, where his interest in animals led him to study Veterinary Medicine at Lahore. This was followed by an MSc in Animal Reproduction, the topic which was to become the main focus of his interests throughout his subsequent career. He later became a Diplomate of the European College of Animal Reproduction. He moved to the UK in 1983, completing a PhD on the control of gonadotrophin secretion in sheep at the University of Nottingham in 1987. He then worked in positions in the USA, Pakistan, Nottingham and Aberystwyth before coming to London.
During this period, he developed an international reputation for his research. This was particularly related to reproduction in small ruminants, where he combined a sound understanding of the underlying science with the development of practical methods to improve their breeding management. For example, Khalid was instrumental in developing techniques in sheep for multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET), out-of-season breeding and the use of trans-cervical intrauterine insemination. He also worked on urinary incontinence in dogs, semen extenders in cattle and acromegaly in cats, publishing over 80 research papers.
During his time at the RVC, Khalid passed his extensive knowledge of animal husbandry, obstetrics and gynaecology onto many generations of our students. One of his particular responsibilities was to manage the breeding of the sheep flock at Boltons Park Farm to ensure a consistent supply of pregnant ewes for students to gain lambing experience. Much of his practical teaching had to take place outdoors during the winter, and he continued uncomplainingly even when his own health problems made this increasingly difficult. He also supervised countless undergraduate student projects and carefully nurtured PhD students from both home and abroad.
Khalid was a kind and caring person with a quiet dignity. He was modest about his many achievements and always willing to go out of his way to help others, be they staff or student. We will all miss him.
IN MEMORIAM
We also proudly remember . . .
Thomas Arthur 2015 Frederick Charles Ball 1961 James Hartley Baron 1963 Christine Mary Carlson 1947 Hugh Dermott Coryn 1955 James Michael Evans 1953 Roger Fox 1949 Edward John Albert Garner 1964 Richard Michael Griffin 1958 Donald Griffith Harris 1947 Derek Hartley 1946
Christopher James House 1978 John Neville Howse 1957 William Alun Jones 1948 Dewi Wyn Lewis 1978 Stuart David John Marston 1972 Michael Oxenham 1959 Colin Francis Poole 1971 Simon Robinson 1970 Michelle J Smithers 1994 Colin James Thomas 1958 Peter Albert Weetman 1958
...and our other RVC alumni and friends who are sadly no longer with us.
OBITUARIES
We are keen to pay tribute to RVC alumni who have sadly died. If you would like to share your stories and memories of a relative, friend or colleague, please email us at alumni@rvc.ac.uk
77