Page 64 - Eclipse - Autumn/Winter 2024
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Stuart’s caseload always seemed bigger Our sympathy goes to Judi, Jenny and Bachelor of Science degree in
than anyone else’s. The look on clients’ Matt, and the grandchildren whom he reproductive anatomy and physiology,
faces when they had to see us assistants loved so dearly. for which he was awarded a first.
instead of ‘Mr King’ will always linger. Energetic, always cheerful and full of Dave loved student life and was
However, despite being busy, he always enthusiasm we will always remember an enthusiastic sportsman and the
made time to help and support young him with great fondness. perpetrator of numerous practical
assistants like us and was an excellent jokes often, if inadvertently, at his own
teacher and mentor. “The practice was always busy, but expense. Alongside his fellow students
because of his popularity among the
Stuart was a talented surgeon, clients, Stuart’s caseload always and subsequently lifetime friends,
successfully achieving the certificate in seemed bigger than anyone else’s” Bob Ruberry and Chris and Pam
small animal orthopaedics in 1994, and Hanson, he organised the 1975
orthopaedic cases increasingly came his RVC annual ball, an achievement
way from within the practice as well as that apparently afforded him as much
referrals from surrounding practices. pleasure as his actual degree.
DAVID TALBOT (1976)
The Park Veterinary Group, as it became, During vacations, Dave saw practice
was to develop into a multi-clinic group By Ken Anderson principally with his brother, Alex, in Thirsk,
with a referral centre and an out-of-hours North Yorkshire, but also nearer to home
hospital. Although stepping aside from the in Staffordshire. In addition, he took a
partnership in 2004, he continued to work holiday job as a porter at a local hospital,
within the practice, taking an instrumental and, on a blind date, he met his future
role in setting up the referral clinic of the wife, Kate, a young nurse. He often said
Park Veterinary Group before departing to that on that first date, he knew that he
answer the call of the sea. and Kate were meant for each other and
subsequently they were married in 1975.
At this time, Stuart passed on the Their two sons, Rob and Rich, were born
ownership of his GP Mark 1 traditional in 1976 and 1978, respectively.
wooden sailing dinghy to one of us (GJ)
who shared an interest in sailing. In typical
fashion, Stuart had souped it up into a
high-performance racing vessel aiming
to win all the races he entered at Pitsford SULAFA AHMED
reservoir – he was ever the competitor!
Stuart and Judi (who met at a student
dance in 1971 and got engaged three
weeks later) went on to spend more and
more time on the water in their yacht
‘Slipstream’, with an eventual move to the So much more than ‘just a vet’, he
south coast. With his usual gusto, Stuart established an enviable reputation
not only learned to sail ocean-going among his farmers and was greatly
vessels, but also spread his knowledge appreciated by his small animal clientele.
delivering sailing courses, organising Every client was treated with respect
seminars and rallies and being a major and understanding.
force for the Cruising Association. GJ Dave was born in Newcastle-under-
can still hear Stuart’s voice in his ear with Lyme in 1952, a second son to Charlie
the wind blowing a hooley and the GP14 and Elsie Talbot and a younger brother
tilting wildly, telling him to ‘get your bum to Alex, who was 10 years his senior.
up onto the side!’
Although a ‘townie’, Dave developed
Despite this new venture, Stuart remained a great and enduring love of wildlife
active within the veterinary profession, and the countryside from an early age.
continuing to do locum work and to work In his teenage years, he spent hours,
as an assessor for the RCVS Practice or sometimes days, cycling with friends, It is with great sadness that we
Standards Scheme until 2019. His attention hitchhiking and camping, perhaps informed our community of the death
to detail and refusal to accept second best most notably but rather briefly, on a of Sulafa Ahmed.
made him ideally suited to this work. There roundabout on the M6.
would be no escaping his eagle eye! In 1970, Dave followed his big brother Sulafa was a Council for At Risk
Although keeping himself very fit with to the RVC, London. Although he Academics (CARA) Researchers
at Risk Fellow, working in the lab
sailing, cycling and running, Stuart was would never have admitted it, he was of Dr Claire Russell from March 2024
diagnosed with dementia in December academically a high achiever and he for 1 year. Sulafa had a long-standing
2023 and in the last months of his life breezed through his veterinary degree, collaboration with Dr Russell and
his health declined rapidly. while also undertaking an intercalated
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