The Queen visited Guildford to open the new 45 million pound veterinary school that is part of the University of Surrey.
Queen Elizabeth all smiles in 2006
Her Majesty and Prince Philip toured the Large Animals Clinical Skills Building and the Veterinary Medicine Main Building Thursday morning where The Queen unveiled a plaque.
Her Majesty spent time meeting with academics and students from the school, in addition to ‘Supervet” Professor Noel Fitzpatrick, who said “These people are going to change animal lives and human lives because we have a one health approach.
“The work here can impact on human lives as well. The work which will be done here matters.
“We’re about caring for every animal because that animal deserves its spot in the universe.”
Her visit did not only draw the attention of the veterinary students, but crowds gathered waiting for Queen Elizabeth’s arrival waving flags and bouquets of flowers, including the 22-year-old, Joanna Jump, a languages student from Switzerland, who spoke of her experience “I waited 20 minutes here to see the Queen today.
“It’s very very exciting, and I thought she was looking great.
“It’s a great day for the Uni and all of us who study here.”
One of the highlights of her visit included seeing the Mary Tudor, a pedigree horse housed at the University. Mark Avison from the Horse Trust noted how the Queen remembered the horse. “She recognised and quickly told the Duke, who remembers the horse as well from Buckingham Palace.
“I think she bred them.
“The Queen loves her animals, she has got time for them, and to look at what we are doing.”
“She asked about how the horse is enjoying retirement with us.”
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh then spent time in the Biomechanics Laboratory with Professor Noel Fitzpatrick before they toured the Clinical Skills Laboratory to view demonstrations put on by the undergraduates.
Dan Letch, a second-year student, showed how to perform CPR on a toy dog.
He said: “It was absolutely fantastic to meet her. I spoke to her about performing CPR, and she seemed very interested.
“It’s amazing for her to come out and open the new vet school.”
Undergraduate Andrew Robb practiced tying a surgical knot under the watchful eye of Her Majesty. Speaking of his experience “This was the perfect opportunity for practicing surgical knot tying, as we would have to carry it out under extreme pressure.
“I definitely felt the pressure with the Queen watching me; it was quite nerve wracking but great to meet her.”
They also had the chance to learn about how to apply bandages, diets for multiple animals, and insight into animal eyes.
The new buildings were approved in November 2013, making this the eighth veterinary school like it in the UK.
Head of the School of Veterinary Medicine, Professor Chris Proudman said, “We’re passionate about developing confidence in our vets so that whatever career path they chose they can work with confidence.
“Setting up a new school from scratch gave us a fantastic opportunity to innovate. An opportunity to do something a bit different.
“We have 3D filming technology in labs which can be used in teaching to allow students to view demonstrations from all angles, slow them down and view again.
“We’re also working with 5G researchers and how to harness it for animal health
“One way we’re doing that is using it to log post-mortem data which we’re hoping can be used for surveillance data on diseases for animals around the country.”
Photo Credit: lizsmithBy: lizsmith via Flickr
