BVA and RCVS pay tribute to Herefordshire vet who served as President of both organisations

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), have paid tribute following the death of Peter Jinman OBE MRCVS, a well-loved veterinary surgeon and public figure who had previously served as president of both organisations.

Peter (pictured) was President of the BVA from 2002-03, a Trustee of BVA’s charity the Animal Welfare Foundation, and Chairman of the Farm Animal Welfare Committee at DEFRA. He was subsequently President of the RCVS, the regulatory body for UK veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses, for the 2010-11 presidential year, served on RCVS Council from 2005 to 2017, and was also a trustee of RCVS Knowledge, the charitable partner of the RCVS, from 2011 to 2020, which has also paid tribute to Peter this week. He was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for 2004 for services to the veterinary profession.

Dr Melissa Donald MRCVS, RCVS President, said: “I, along with my colleagues on RCVS Council and VN Council, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the death of Peter Jinman this week.

“He was a true stalwart of the veterinary professions and the RCVS, and even after his tenure on Council finished he remained actively involved with College business, chairing the Standards Committee’s Certification Subcommittee. During his presidential year, he helped steer through the passage of a new Legislative Reform Order which changed the composition of the RCVS Disciplinary and Primary Investigation Committees and launched a consultation on the, then, new Code of Professional Conduct, among many other things.

“For me, Peter was a personal inspiration and role model and one of the reasons I decided to get involved in veterinary politics. His commitment to public service was demonstrated not just through his involvement with the RCVS, but also through his membership of bodies such as the Parliamentary Committee on Standards, Defra’s Farm Animal Welfare Committee and the Farmers Club, for whom he was the first veterinary surgeon who served as Chairman.

“He was held in great affection by RCVS colleagues and staff who have described him as being always happy to help, always available and always a pleasure to work with, as well as being extremely erudite and knowledgeable. He will be missed by us all.”

BVA President Malcolm Morley said: “We were truly saddened to hear the news that Peter has passed away.

“Widely respected, Peter was a pillar of the veterinary community, always there with wise advice or a kind word. He was a strong advocate and supporter of many BVA officers who followed in his footsteps, providing guidance and encouragement throughout their journeys. His dedication to his work, the profession itself and the animals he cared for was undeniable.

“A valued friend to many, Peter will be sorely missed but his tremendous legacy to the veterinary profession will live on. Our thoughts are with Peter’s wife Gill and his family, friends and colleagues at this sad and difficult time.”

Amanda Boag, Chair of the RCVS Knowledge Trustees, added: “Peter was a dedicated Trustee at RCVS Knowledge for nine years. He was instrumental in the development of the charity from the RCVS Charitable Trust into RCVS Knowledge in 2013, and its renewed focus on supporting the professions improve the quality of care they deliver. He was an inspiration to work with, a great friend to everyone at RCVS Knowledge and will be dearly missed.”