Bristol Vet School celebrates 75th anniversary

Bristol Veterinary School is celebrating its 75th anniversary of educating students and advancing animal health and wellbeing

From improving livestock welfare to tackling food security and antimicrobial resistance, using artificial intelligence to detect disease and working to conserve highly threatened mammals, Bristol Veterinary School has helped to advance veterinary medicine, animal welfare and health around the world.

In 1944 the Government of the day set up a committee under the chairmanship of Thomas Loveday, then Vice-Chancellor of Bristol, to consider the future of veterinary education. The Loveday Committee recommended in 1946 that veterinary education should be expanded and that veterinary schools should be incorporated into the university system. Two new veterinary schools were to be founded, making six in all, one of which was to be at Bristol with 30 graduates a year.

The University purchased the Langford Estates, 14 miles south west of Bristol, to be used as a field station. In May 1948 it was announced that the first group of veterinary students would be admitted in October 1949.

More than 5,000 veterinary graduates later, Bristol Veterinary School currently has over 1,300 students across Veterinary Science, Veterinary Nursing and postgraduate programmes and close to 200 staff, and has evolved through its developments in education, practical skills, scientific understanding and its ‘One Health’ approach.

Tim Parkin, Head of Bristol Veterinary School and Professor of Veterinary Epidemiology, said: “We are proud to celebrate our 75th anniversary. Not only are we about to graduate our 70th cohort of veterinary surgeons, but 2024 also marks the 25th anniversary of the launch of our veterinary nursing programmes. Bristol Veterinary School remains a dynamic force, preparing veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses for the challenges ahead.”

Professor Jeremy Tavaré, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean for the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, added: “I’m delighted to be celebrating Bristol Veterinary School’s 75 years. Its excellence in teaching and research has resulted in greater understanding and some real-world changes benefiting the health and welfare of both animals and humans, which is testament to the School’s remarkable staff, students and graduates.”