News
Wednesday 16 July 2008
The Earl of Wessex opens Veterinary Nursing Centre and Animal Unit
His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex has today opened the East Midlands’ first state-of-the-art Veterinary Nursing Centre and Animal Unit at Nottingham Trent University’s Brackenhurst Campus. Lord Lieutenant for Nottinghamshire Sir Andrew Buchanan welcomed the Earl of Wessex to the University’s School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences along with other dignitaries, including Lord Soulsby of Swaffham Prior. Lord Soulsby is the only veterinary surgeon to be appointed to the House of Lords (1990). Amongst his many distinguished honours and responsibilities he was past President of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1985-1986.
As the latest addition to the Brackenhurst Campus - which recently celebrated its 60th anniversary – the £1.5 million unit houses state-of-the-art equipment and facilities and will be used to provide Veterinary Nursing courses accredited by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS). Built with support from East Midlands Development Agency (emda), the unit is already gathering considerable interest from prospective students across the country and offers life-long learning opportunities and career advancement in the profession.
Professor Jenny Saint, Dean of the School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, said: "The new unit is a fantastic facility which the University can be very proud of. We’re looking forward to our students and staff making the most of everything that it has to offer, and we’re delighted that the Earl of Wessex could be here to officially open the facility."
Diana Gilhespy, emda’s Executive Director of Regeneration, commented: "We have contributed £950,000 to this facility and are delighted to support what is the first veterinary nursing training centre within the East Midlands. Boosting the skills levels of our future workforce is vital to ensure a flourishing region."
Children from Gunthorpe Primary School greeted the royal party, before Professor Saint accompanied His Royal Highness on a tour of the unit to meet staff and students that work there. Vice Chancellor Professor Neil Gorman then invited The Earl of Wessex to unveil a plaque to officially open the Veterinary Nursing Centre and Animal Unit.
ENDS
Image Caption
His Royal Highness, The Earl of Wessex, with Professor Neil Gorman, Nottingham Trent University Vice-Chancellor and Professor Jenny Saint, the Dean of the University’s School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences.
Notes for editors
Professor Neil Gorman DL is an international authority in veterinary science, with a particular emphasis on comparative immunology and oncology. In 1986, at the age of only 36, he was appointed to the Chair of Veterinary Surgery at the University of Glasgow.
Professor Gorman has been a council member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) since 1990 and has served on almost all of the RCVS’ committees. During 1997-98 he also served as RCVS President. In 2001, as Chair of the RCVS Education Strategy Steering Group, Professor Gorman co-authored the seminal report ‘Veterinary Education and Training: A Framework for 2010 and Beyond’. Today, he combines his Vice-Chancellorship of Nottingham Trent University with a leading role in the veterinary profession as an active member of the RCVS Council. Currently he is Chairman of the Advisory Committee of the RCVS
About emda
emda is one of nine Regional Development Agencies in England, set up in 1999 to bring a regional focus to economic development. Working in partnership with public, private and voluntary organisations the aim is to deliver the 2006 Regional Economic Strategy (RES) 'A Flourishing Region', which sets out regional priorities until 2020. The RES, coordinated by emda, highlights the themes of productivity, sustainability and equality and builds on the previous two strategies; 'Prosperity Through People' and 'Destination 2010'. In early 2007 the National Audit Office announced emda had received the highest possible grade of 'performing strongly' in an independent assessment of our work - scoring 22 out of 24. For more details visit http://www.emda.org.uk.
Press enquiries please contact Matt Wallace, Press Officer, on telephone +44 (0)115 848 8785, or via email matthew.wallace@ntu.ac.uk, or Therese Easom, Press and Media Relations Manager, on telephone +44 (0)115 848 8774, or via email therese.easom@ntu.ac.uk.
