Page 66 - Eclipse - Autumn 2021

in veterinary science, to the staff he supportive. He inspired and facilitated
managed and to the friends he made. creativity in his team. As a member of
his team, I felt cared for and looked
“When I started at the RVC in 2002,
GEOFFREY BYRNE Nick was the friendly face who I could after. He brought us satsumas in the
(1957) talk to and share an enthusiasm for winter months, brightened up the office
distance and online learning. His vision with giant poinsettias at Christmas, and
always shared treats from his travels. He
for educational outreach was to include
Geoffrey graduated from the RVC in 1957. all veterinarians who could not physically always said that our families and health
He started his own practice in Camelford, attend the RVC. He was instrumental in came above work.
Cornwall in 1959 and continued to run the building the virtual learning environment “With his dynamic vision and flair for
practice for 30 years until his retirement in and the e-learning strategy at the innovation, he helped to establish the
1990, when he sold the practice. It was RVC. He built a team around him and Bloomsbury Learning Exchange (BLE)
a three to four man mixed practice and persuaded more traditional colleagues of collaboration. Among our partners, he
Geoffrey always employed newly qualified the power of new educational tools. was a go-to for advice and provided a
graduates, as he particularly enjoyed shining beacon of excellence in what can
training them as junior practitioners. “Nick pioneered the involvement of be achieved in digital education.
students in new developments and of
Geoffrey received an Honorary Degree working with ‘students as partners’, now “Nick helped to shape the professional
of Recognition in 2014 from the RVC a buzzword in HE. The foundations that I have become, and even into his
in recognition of his commitment to the he laid at the RVC is an example of the retirement, I was so grateful for his
veterinary profession. future of online veterinary education contribution to my development and to
around the world and, more immediately, the continued direction of the BLE.”
Our thoughts are with Geoffrey’s wife
Jennifer and his family. prepared the RVC for the challenge of Sarah Sherman
COVID-19. He was an inspired and
passionate educator who understood “I met Nick when I joined the RVC in
the value of developed countries working 2002. One day he approached me to
with less developed countries to provide discuss some teaching projects, which
excellence in online education. later would become the cornerstone
NICK SHORT “His legacy lives on in the UK and globally.” of our relationship. I remember the
rudimentary gadgets we tried to use
By Ayona Silva-Fletcher, Sarah Sherman, Ayona Silva-Fletcher to create learning content, especially
Raymond Macharia recording lectures and creating
“I met Nick some years before I cheekily
In February 2021, we tragically lost our asked if he had any jobs going – I podcasts using mobile phones. I must
friend and former colleague Nick Short, was that keen to work with him. As it say that these very podcasts and other
who joined the RVC back in 2000. happened, he did – and 14 years on, outputs, such as Wikivet, threw the
He contributed to the RVC and its I’m still here. limelight posthumously on Nick, as they
community (staff, students and alumni) “Nick was not just a line manager; were deployed to supplement teaching
in so many ways that a complete tribute he was a confidante, a guidance during the COVID-19 lockdown.
encompassing all he did would be counsellor, an adviser and above all, “I travelled a lot with Nick to educational
impossible. However, we hope we can my friend. He was kind and gentle, conferences and meetings in Europe
offer some words about the impact he motivating and passionate, encouraging and Africa and nothing exuded more
made to online learning and teaching from him than his desire to see a lot of
and interested, approachable and
good quality teaching content developed
and provided to the world of veterinary
science for free.
“Nick was a very friendly, kind and
humble person, always doing what he
could to create a favourable environment
for all those who associated with him.
Nick and I remained close friends and
seamlessly shared not only his academic
passion but also occasionally his best
dinner recipes. He has left an imprint
on me of a gentle, caring, kind and
compassionate person.”
Raymond Macharia

Nick (far right) with one of his wonderful teams from 2010

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