Berkshire equine practitioner elected Vice-President

Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Council member Chris Tufnell has been elected as the next Vice-President and will take up his position in July.

Chris, an equine practitioner from Newbury in Berkshire, was elected at the meeting of RCVS Council on 5 March and will replace Dr Bradley Viner who was elected as President for 2015/16.

As Vice-President Chris, the sole principal of Coach House Veterinary Surgeons in East Woodhay, hopes that his experience and outlook as a practitioner ‘on the ground’ will shape his term of office. He says: “Just as many others before me, it is the experience of the day-job which drives me to contribute to the work of the RCVS.”

While recognising the importance of lay involvement in the College’s regulatory functions, Chris is passionate about veterinary self-regulation and feels that the RCVS is stronger, more relevant and more in touch because of it.

He adds: “Although the 1966 Veterinary Surgeons Act can look very outdated today, I do believe that its underlying premise has led to better animal welfare in this country. As a profession we cannot do everything, but as the ultimate guardians of animal welfare, I believe that we do a pretty good job.”

Both Chris and Bradley will take up their positions, subject to formal appointment, at RCVS Day – the College’s Annual General Meeting and Awards Day – on Friday, 10 July.