Published: 17 May 2018 | Last Updated: 10 Aug 2023 15:38:06

The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has awarded Martin Alder, the recently retired Editor of The Veterinary Record, with an Honorary Fellowship presented during the RVC’s Annual Principal’s Dinner. Mr. Alder was honoured for his dedication and contribution towards promoting the veterinary profession.

The Principal’s Dinner took place on 2nd May 2018 at Saddlers Hall, during which Professor Stuart Reid reflected on Mr. Alder’s past and ongoing contributions to the veterinary profession, which have resulted in significant gains within the veterinary journalism field. Professor Stuart Reid also paid tribute to Mr. Alder’s leading role in advocating for the development of veterinary medicine, and his ability to see the wider significance of the findings he wrote about.

Professor Stuart Reid particularly paid tribute to Mr. Alder’s 26-year career as an editor, throughout this time he wrote nearly all the editorial comments for the weekly edition of Veterinary Record. His content covered a range of topics, including events ranging from the foot-and-mouth epidemic of 2007 to the global eradication of Rinderpest in 2011. Mr. Alder demonstrated a particular interest in One Health, and this led him to oversee the joint issue of the Veterinary Record and The BMJ. The RVC is one of the leading institutions in this area and teaches its own One Health course.

Professor Stuart Reid, Principal of the RVC, said: “Martin consistently delivered editorials that were erudite, topical, well-written and greatly influenced thinking and policy at all levels. We thank Martin for his commitment to the veterinary profession, attending and reporting on many events, from practice developments to international scientific meetings, and above all, for being a familiar and approachable colleague.’’

Notes to Editors

For more information please contact: Uche Graves or Alex Cassells / Press Line: 0800 368 9520

About the Royal Veterinary College

• The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) is the UK's largest and longest established independent veterinary school, and is a constituent College of the federation of the University of London.
• The RVC offers undergraduate, postgraduate and CPD programmes in veterinary medicine, veterinary nursing and biological sciences, being ranked third worldwide for veterinary medicine and in the top 10 universities nationally for biosciences degrees.
• It is currently the only veterinary school in the world to hold full accreditation from AVMA, EAEVE, RCVS and AVBC.
• In 2017, the RVC received a Gold award from the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) – the highest rating a university can receive.
• A research-led institution, in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF2014) the RVC was ranked as the top vet school in the Agriculture, Veterinary and Food Science unit of assessment, with 79% of submitted academics producing world-class or internationally excellent research.
• The RVC also provides animal owners and the veterinary profession with access to expert veterinary care and advice through its teaching hospitals; the Beaumont Sainsbury Animal Hospital in central London, the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals (Europe's largest small animal referral centre), the Equine Referral Hospital, and the Farm Animal Clinical Centre located at the Hertfordshire campus.
• www.rvc.ac.uk