Page 77 - Eclipse - Autumn/Winter 2022
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                                            on a move to Ireland to study for   In due course, he nursed Jan through
                                            a PhD in canine dermatology.        her twilight years, caring for her at
                                                                                home as she succumbed to dementia.
        KENNETH PERCY                       He was appointed lecturer in        He had a deep and meaningful faith
        BAKER (1957)                        veterinary pathology in Trinity College   based on the commandment of love.
                                            Dublin in 1963 and gained his PhD and
        By A. Baker,T. D. Grimes            an appointment as a lecturer in clinical   He worshipped at Christ Church,
        Obituary, published in Vet Record,    medicine in 1966. His children Andrew,   Delgany, serving as churchwarden and
        Vol 191, Issue 1, 9/16 July 2022, p41  Vicky and Christopher were born   in the vestry, and wrote a history of the
                                            in Ireland.                         church so that future parishioners could
                                                                                know of their heritage. Faith was not
                                            Ken’s inquiring mind was well suited to   something to hide. Our thoughts are
                                            academia. Following the merger of the   with his family and friends.
                                            university veterinary faculties at Trinity
                                            College and University College Dublin
                                            in 1977, he was appointed associate
                                            professor of the combined school. He
                                            was then appointed professor and head  EDWARD PETER
                                            of the department of clinical veterinary   NELSON (1956)
                                            medicine at the University of the
                                            West Indies, Trinidad, in 1989, before
                                            returning to Ireland to become head of
                                            the department of small animal clinical
                                            studies in University College Dublin
                                            from 1990 to 1995.
                                            His clinical and research interests lay
                                            within the broad field of veterinary
                                            dermatology and he made a significant
                                            contribution to this discipline, becoming
        Kenneth Percy Baker MA, MSc, PhD,   an acknowledged expert in canine and
        FTCD, FRCVS, (b) 1930, (q) London   feline dermatology and parasitology. He
        1957. Died 9 February 2022          published over 100 papers and various
        A talented veterinary dermatologist   book chapters and jointly authored a
        and educator who retained a         standard text. His work on parasitic
        fascination for the diversity of nature.  skin disease and the development of
        Ken was born in London’s East End in   intradermal skin tests as a diagnostic
        1930, the middle one of three children.   tool in veterinary dermatology
        His tales of the war years were of   form the basis of a deserved
        rationing, playing among the rubble and   international reputation.     Edward Peter Nelson
        becoming a short-term refugee, but   He became a diplomate in veterinary   11-04-33 - 16-08-2022
        also of long cycle rides with his brother   dermatology of the RCVS and the   In tribute to Ted Nelson,
        and their dog, as well as hours spent   European College of Veterinary   Chris Trower writes:
        watching barges at the docks.       Dermatology and was awarded         It is with sadness we note that Ted
        He worked hard and had natural      fellowship of the RCVS in 1982 for   died peacefully after a brief illness in
        ability. He entered grammar school on   meritorious contributions in the field of   August 2022.
        a scholarship and, after two years of   veterinary dermatology.         Ted was the son of a Lancashire dairy
        National Service with the Royal Army   Ken provided the happiest childhood   farmer and set his sights on becoming
        Medical Corps, he entered the Royal   for this family, who sailed, fished and   a veterinary surgeon from an early age.
        Veterinary College, London, qualifying   undertook camping trips. He also cared   He entered the RVC in 1951, straight
        in 1957.                            for his students, inviting many back   from grammar school in Preston, at a
        Ken met Jan, a nursing sister, in the   home for meals, especially those from   time when many of the undergraduates
        London Hospital and they married in   overseas who were finding Ireland   were mature students, some having
        1959. Her love and support allowed   a somewhat cold and lonely place.   seen active service in World War 2. It
        him to achieve his ambitions and raise a   Education was very important to him;   was at the RVC in Camden town that he
        happy family.                       he believed everyone should have the   met his future wife Deirdre (Dot) Quinn,
                                            opportunity to reach their potential   who was an assistant librarian in the
        After qualifying, he worked initially   and he raised funds for the churches’   college library.
        in mixed practice in Horsham, Sussex,   Sudan Mission and for schooling for the
        where his children Susie, Paul and   travelling community.              Qualifying in 1956, Ted became a
        Johnny were born, before deciding                                       member of RVC staff, as the assistant

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