Dr Heather Bacon awarded OBE
Dr Heather Bacon of the WSAVA Animal Wellness and Welfare Committee (AWWC) has received an OBE at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Scotland. OBE stands for Officer of the Order of the British Empire. It is awarded to individuals who have made major contributions to their community or to the UK or whose work is globally significant.
Dr Bacon accepted her Award from Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal in Edinburgh, having been recognized in Queen Elizabeth’s 2020 New Year Honours list for her services to veterinary education, animal welfare and charity work in the UK and abroad. She had been unable to receive it earlier because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr Bacon has been actively engaged in animal welfare for much of her career. She is currently senior clinical veterinary lecturer and academic lead at the new UK veterinary school at the University of Central Lancashire in the north of England.
She says: “It was a very proud day for me – like a very special graduation with all the formal pomp and ceremony you’d expect and it was run with military precision. I found out shortly before the ceremony that I had to do a small curtsey on arriving in front of Princess Anne and one as I was leaving. If I’d known this earlier, I would have practised! I was nervous but I winged it with my little dip and thankfully I was fine.
full
I’m fortunate to work with such an incredible array of dedicated animal care professionals so it seems strange to me that my work is recognized, when often theirs is not.
This is the author
“Princess Anne is very knowledgeable about the world of animals, veterinary care and training so we spoke for around two to three minutes. I’m fortunate to work with such an incredible array of dedicated animal care professionals so it seems strange to me that my work is recognized, when often theirs is not. To me, this award represents a wider recognition of the importance of veterinary education and the promotion of animal welfare internationally, and the hard work done by my colleagues, friends and collaborators around the world who are doing so many wonderful things to help improve animal care and welfare.”
full