Page 41 - Eclipse - Autumn/Winter 2022

RVC HONOURS

Lord Curry of Kirkharle

Lord Curry of Kirkharle was awarded
a Fellowship of the College for his
services to the RVC in his position as
Chair of RVC Council for seven years.
Lord Curry retired from the position
in 2019 and our first Graduation
since the pandemic seemed the ideal
time to make the award.
Donald Curry lives in Northumberland
and has been a Crossbench Peer in
the House of Lords since 2011. He
was a founding trustee of the Prince’s
Countryside Fund and has been Chair
since March 2016. In June 2014 he was
appointed Chair of Cawood Scientific,
an independent provider of accredited
analytical laboratory testing services for
the land-based sector. He is a trustee
of Clinton Devon Estates, and also
Anglican International Development
(AID), a charity leading on a range of
development projects in South Sudan.

He retired as Chair of the Council of He served as a Crown Estate cross bench peer in the House of Lords in
the RVC in August 2019. From 2009 Commissioner from January 2000 October 2011. In 2004 he was awarded
until the summer of 2016, he was Chair until December 2007. He was first an Honorary Doctorate (BSc) by Cranfield
of the Leckford Estate Management appointed as a Meat and Livestock University, an Honorary Doctorate by the
Committee – the Waitrose Farm. He Commission Commissioner in October University of Gloucestershire in 2005 and
was appointed chair of the Better 1986 and Chaired the Commission a Doctorate of Civil Law by Newcastle
Regulation Executive in 2010 and from September 1993 until April 2001, University in 2008.
remained there until the end of 2015. throughout the BSE crisis and the Foot
He was appointed as a board member and Mouth disease outbreak. He was a We thank Lord Curry for his
of the NFU Mutual Insurance Company founder of ‘At Home in the Community’ commitment to the RVC and
in 1997 and was Chairman from June in 1990, a charity providing care the impact he has had on the
2003 to December 2011. He Chaired and support for people with learning RVC Community.
the Policy Commission on the Future disabilities and was Chair until 2014.
of Farming and Food reporting to
Government in January 2002 and He was awarded a CBE for his services
was responsible for overseeing the to Agriculture in the 1997 New Year’s
Government’s Strategy for Sustainable Honours list, a Knighthood in the Birthday
Farming and Food until March 2009. Honours in 2001 and was appointed as a

Simon (1977), Bourgelat (1986) and from the RVC has meant so much to me
Blaine (1995) Awards for work in in my career. I am truly honoured to have
veterinary ophthalmology and in 2009, my work recognised by my alma mater in
was presented the ISVO’s Magrane this award of its Honorary Fellowship”
Memorial Lecture. In 2014, he received David Church said: “Peter is a
the Kennel Club’s International Lifetime wonderful example of someone who has
Achievement Award for his work in the immersed himself in being an excellent
control of hereditary ocular disease.
clinician and an outstanding educator.
Professor Bedford said: “I am grateful His commitment to the discipline of
that the RVC gave me the chance veterinary ophthalmology remains as
to teach and research veterinary strong today as it was when he was
ophthalmology. Fortunately, I was in the appointed as the RVC’s first lecturer in
right place in the very early days in the Ophthalmology over 40 years ago.”
development of the discipline and the
support and encouragement I received Many congratulations to Peter.

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