RCVS congratulates members recognised in King’s Birthday Honours List

Congratulations to two veterinary surgeons who have become Officers of the British Empire (OBEs) in King Charles III’s Birthday Honours List.

Professor Stephen May FRCVS (pictured left), Emeritus Professor at the Royal Veterinary College, was recognised for his services to veterinary education and animals in science. Professor May served as RCVS President from 2017 to 2018 and has been actively involved in the work of the College for many years, serving a total of 19 years as a Council member, both as a vet school-appointee and an elected member, before retiring in 2024. During his time on Council, Professor May led the Legislative Reform Working Group which developed the Legislative Reform Proposals – the blueprint for any future veterinary legislation – as well as the Graduate Outcomes Project, out of which the Veterinary Graduate Development Programme was developed.

Dr Kulin Patel MRCVS, Veterinary Advisor for International Trade at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), was also recognised for his services to animal health and international trade.

RCVS President, Linda Belton MRCVS, said: "Huge congratulations to both Professor May and Dr Patel on this outstanding achievement. Thank you both for your extraordinary contributions to the veterinary profession during your careers, for which I would like to extend my appreciation on behalf of everyone at the RCVS.

"Huge congratulations to both Professor May and Dr Patel on this outstanding achievement. Thank you both for your extraordinary contributions to the veterinary profession during your careers, for which I would like to extend my appreciation on behalf of everyone at the RCVS."

"Huge congratulations to both Professor May and Dr Patel on this outstanding achievement. Thank you both for your extraordinary contributions to the veterinary profession during your careers, for which I would like to extend my appreciation on behalf of everyone at the RCVS."

"I would also like to extend congratulations to all those mentioned in the King’s Birthday Honours List for contributions to the veterinary world, animal health and welfare, and to the One Health concept more generally. We could not do the work we do without vital stakeholder collaboration, and it is fantastic to see outstanding individuals in the field being recognised for all they have contributed to our society."