Page 48 - Eclipse - Autumn/Winter 2024

Peter Lee’s ‘A Hero For All Times’

Professor Adrian Boswood, Vice Principal for Learning, Teaching and Assessment

n Monday 30th of November
2023 I had the pleasure of
attending the official launch
Oof Peter Lees’ book “A Hero
For All Times”. It is interesting what you
learn about your colleagues once they
have retired. I have known Peter for
many years as a colleague at the RVC,
but had no idea that, as well as being a
renowned pharmacologist, he is also a
budding First World War historian.
Rather than using his gradual retirement
from the RVC as reason for spending
more time in the garden, Peter undertook
an MA in World War One Studies
at the University of Wolverhampton.
His interest in the history of this period
resulted in him writing the biography
of Neville Marshall – a member of
the Irish Guards who was awarded the
Victoria Cross in World War One and by
all accounts a very interesting character
(read the biography to find out more!).
The book launch was hosted at the
London Regimental Headquarters
of the Irish Guards, including a
welcome from the Regimental Mascot;
an Irish Wolfhound. It was a lovely
venue in Central London overlooking
St. James’s Park.
The event was well attended by a
great variety of people reflecting the
many different aspects of Peter’s life –
personal and professional. There were
several RVC alumni there and members
of RVC academic staff both past and
present who had been colleagues
of Peter’s during the many decades
he worked at the RVC, including our
previous Principal, Quintin McKellar,
another pharmacologist by training.
Peter’s book was introduced, and
a reading was given. Peter himself
spoke for a while, outlining his
motivation for writing the book
in his usual entertaining, modest, You can buy a copy online:
self-deprecating Lancastrian manner. rvc.uk.com/

It was really a pleasure to have attended AHeroForAllTimes
and learned of another facet of Peter
Lee’s life. He is an example to us all that We also have a few copies
life after retirement can signify the start of the book available at our
of a new chapter, rather than simply the RVC Shop at Hawkshead.
ending of an old one.

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