New members welcomed from overseas

Ten international candidates were welcomed as new members of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons at a special admissions ceremony at Belgravia House, London, yesterday.

RCVS President Dr Bob Moore welcomed candidates who graduated in India, the West Indies, Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Korea, and were all successful in the 2007 Statutory Examination for Membership, enabling them to practise in the UK. He presented them with certificates, in front of friends and family, before making a short address.

He reminded them of the functions of the RCVS, which include monitoring educational standards and continuing professional development (CPD), issuing advice to members and regulating the profession through a disciplinary framework.

Based on his forty years in practice, he said that the new members could look forward to a varied career in their chosen profession, the opportunity to make lots of friends – with colleagues and clients – and, although there would be some stressful days, they could hope to receive respect from the local community and enjoy being part of a profession that is held in high regard.

Dr Moore also urged the new members not to see this as the end of their education but to continue their learning journey with continuing professional development, RCVS certificates and diplomas and other postgraduate qualifications.

For those new members who had not already worked in practice, the RCVS Professional Development Phase would be mandatory this year, those who had worked in practice could choose to complete it if they wished.

One of the new members, Claire Lambourn, who graduated from St George’s University in Grenada, was accompanied by her grandmother, Mrs Christina Witherington, also a veterinary surgeon.

Mrs Witherington qualified in 1942 from “the London College”, having met her husband there. A pioneering lady, Mrs Witherington was the first female veterinary surgeon in Malaysia, where she travelled with her husband the late Major Witherington OBE.

A total of 12 candidates successfully passed the Statutory Membership examination.