Page 76 - Eclipse - Autumn/Winter 2023
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Trevor’s career was astounding. He Award (twice), the Centenary Medal of
promoted advances in veterinary the Central Veterinary Society and the
medicine and surgery and was keen Francis Hogg Prize.
WILLIAM TREVOR to adopt innovative technology. A
TURNER (1958) general practitioner, he was interested Trevor wrote numerous veterinary
articles for the dog and cat press. He
in orthopaedic and soft tissue surgery,
By Sally Turner veterinary dentistry, avian medicine and contributed chapters to several books
as well as writing several chapters for,
Obituary, published in Veterinary Record, radiology. He was a member of many and acting as overall editor of, the books
May 2023 veterinary organisations and was a ‘Veterinary Notes for Dog Owners’, and
council member of several. He served the
An animal lover who was a wonderful British Veterinary Nursing Association, ‘Veterinary Notes for Cat Owners’.
vet, he was hugely supportive of the vet including being its president; various Travel featured prominently in Trevor
nursing profession. BSAVA committees (he spent 14 years as and Jean’s lives, with them frequently
William Trevor Turner – known as Trevor information officer for the Clinical Studies using the excuse of attending a
or ‘TT’ – was born on 8th May 1933 in Trust Fund/Petsavers, encouraging veterinary congress abroad as an
Kennington, South London. When he donations to the charity by taking part excellent opportunity to visit new
was five years old the family moved to in fancy dress runs with boundless places. Colleagues who joined them
Northolt, Middlesex, where he lived for enthusiasm); RCVS VN committee (he on ‘post-congress tours’ have plenty of
almost all his life. was also an examiner); BVA/Kennel Club happy memories.
liaison committee (where he advocated
He gained his veterinary degree from improving the health of pedigree dogs by In 1998, they sold MVH, but continued
the RVC in 1958. After a few months in changing breed standards, for example); working hard in the profession. An
mixed practice in Essex he ‘put up his and was a lifelong supporter of the RVC interest in forensic veterinary medicine
plate’ from his bedroom at 15 Mandeville Alumnus Association. led him to become an expert witness
Road, Northolt. Initially, he was mainly and he joined the Institute of Arbitrators
involved in equine work, but by the He was a member of The Kennel Club and the Academy of Experts. He
mid-1960s the practice was concerned and was chief veterinary officer for Crufts was involved in many cases for the
almost entirely with small animals. dog show for many years, as well as RSPCA and those associated with the
acting as honorary veterinary surgeon Dangerous Dogs Act.
After 12 years running the surgery as at other championship shows. In the cat
a single-handed practitioner, he began world, he was a member of several breed Sadly, Trevor’s bright and enquiring
to expand the practice supported by clubs and a regular on the ‘vetting-in’ mind was dampened for the last few
his beloved wife Jean, a veterinary circuit. He lectured widely at events for years of his life, following a diagnosis
nurse (VN), and by 1977 it became an vets, VNs and the public, and was a of Alzheimer’s disease in 2014. He and
RCVS-approved veterinary hospital regular teacher on VN courses. Jean managed well at first, but they
– Mandeville Veterinary Hospital gradually required increasing support.
(MVH) – as well as a British Small He received many awards over the After Jean’s death in January 2022,
Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) years, including the BVA William Trevor moved to a wonderful care home.
approved practice. Hunting Award, the BSAVA Melton He was content there, usually smiling
Trevor swiftly learnt that an essential
component to running a successful
veterinary clinic was employing well-
trained, dedicated VNs and MVH was
one of the original RCVS-approved VN
training centres.
Trevor and Jean created a warm,
supportive and encouraging workplace.
He was an educator, sharing his
knowledge, as well as being fair,
forgiving and supportive. Believing ‘Mr
Turner’ was far too formal for his liking
he was known as ‘TT’ by everyone, even
though at the time it was considered
inappropriate to call your boss by their
first name.
The practice was a team and everyone
was included in every activity, be it
cakes (or ice cream in the summer)
on a Saturday, or the legendary
Mandeville parties!
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