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Dear VHS Member At the recent Committee Meeting we took a few minutes remembering Norman Comben, who died on September 16th this year. Norman had been a member of the Society from its very early days and a regular attender and supporter at our Meetings. He also served on the Committee, and was always helpful with suggestions for speakers and the sharing of his extraordinary knowledge of veterinary books and other memorabilia. We miss him. The Meeting at the RASE library at Stoneleigh in June this year attracted a larger number of members and visitors than is usual. We assume this was due to the dual attraction of the meeting – the library as well as the veterinary interest. The Librarian Dr John Wood showed us round the library, which is modelled and decorated as if in an older building, with its fine oak panelling and long table, and alcoves of volumes backed by deep turquoise walls upon which the few portraits show well. The adjoining store-room is also packed with archival documents from the early days of the Society, catalogues of the Royal Show and agricultural journals; Robert Bakewell is well represented by his portrait hanging above his chair. Dr Paul Brassley spoke on the intensive livestock industry, particularly pigs and poultry, and the veterinary roles. Dr Gordon Gatward pointed out that intensive methods of farming are not all bad and that stress of the both the animals as well as their keepers must be considered. And finally we were delighted to hear Denis Oliver in full flow telling of his experiences as the RAS shows from the late 1940s until he became their Chief Veterinary Officer; shortly after his talk a small recording team from RASE visited him and has collected much material, of which we hope to hear more. The Oral History project being undertaken by Sue Bradbury, from the Centre for Rural Economy at Newcastle University has completed its first entry, by recording Mary Brancker recalling her long and active life, then transcribing and saving it electronically for the British Library. We wish Sue Bradley success in this fascinating process; it is a little too expensive for the VHS to follow exactly the same route, but we would appeal to our elder members to write their memories so that we may publish them in our journal Veterinary History. In fact our Editor, John Clewlow, appeals for any academic or non-academic article of veterinary interest for the journal. Veterinary Historyis sent worldwide by the VHS,and has an excellent reputation amongst all publications by similar societies from different countries and English-speaking universities. At our November meeting at the RCVS last year a paper was given by Peter Roeder entitled ‘The Recent History of Rinderpest towards Eradication’. In June this year the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations held a meeting in Rome in which ‘the 192 member countries adopted a resolution declaring global freedom from rinderpest’. (Veterinary Record July 2, 2011). This is only the second disease to be eradicated, and part of the story has been told in Veterinary History Vol.14 No.1. J T Edwards qualified from the RVC in 1911 and ten years later, after a varied career, specialised in bacteriology in India, where his main achievement was the development of an attenuated rinderpest virus which was used as the first active immunisation of Indian cattle. He later advised the Egyptian government on their anti-rinderpest policies. And he was also a long-serving editor of The Veterinary Record between his trips abroad. A remarkable veterinarian. The Granville Penn Press has its second imprint in sight. This is the collection of Twentieth Century Veterinary Lives, some of which have been suggested by VHS members, each written by Bruce V Jones, and selected mainly because they have left some worthy contribution to the veterinary world. There are over 100 lives, (which include foibles as well as achievements) and J T Edwards is one. And Norman Comben is now another. Future programmes: The autumn meeting with the AGM this year is a little later than usual, on Wednesday November 30th at the RCVS, Belgravia House, Horseferry Road, London SW1P 2AF - flyer enclosed. Any news, opinions, suggestions – please let us know: either by a letter to the editor, or an email or a telephone call – we are: Tim Cox – Chairman: Ormsdale, Coldharbour Lane, Dorking, Surrey RH4 3AZ Jean Mann – Secretary: 17 Anseres Place, Wells, Somerset BA5 2RT John Clewlow – Editor: 1 St James Court, Grange Park Drive, Biddulph ST8 7XX
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