ON what turned out to be a very pleasant day, just 21 members attended the January meeting of Crediton Probus Club at Downes Crediton Golf Club (which was closed for play because of all the appalling wet weather).

Eric Rodd opened with grace and we all enjoyed a very pleasant lunch.

After the draw (won by Reg Nott), Russ Ballard introduced our speaker, Peter Budd, a retired vet.

Peter was plunged into his first post in 1971 immediately after graduation from Bristol University, his marriage the following week and return from honeymoon.

His career was spent in three very different jobs: the first years were spent in a veterinary practice on the Somerset levels in Langport, where he specialised in cattle and sheep, eventually becoming practice owner.

With the near collapse of the dairy industry through the 1980’s and early 1990’s he moved in 1995 to a post in the nearby West Hatch Animal Hospital in Taunton, which had been opened by the RSPCA.

When that charity got themselves in a financial mess in 2001 and had to downgrade the hospital to an animal centre, Peter left to join DEFRA, where he spent the rest of his career.

He worked there as crises of BSE, avian flu and foot and mouth happened.

In describing his time in the three posts, using amusing anecdotes and uproariously funny stories of incidents (some of them rather bizarre, like treating many swans that had mistakenly landed on the M5, thinking it to be a waterway).

At times Peter had almost reduced the membership to tears of laughter.

Given that a number of our members are retired farmers, Peter stuck many chords.

Robin Langhorne gave the vote of thanks to Peter and the president, Burford Cropper, concluded the meeting by proposing the toast: “to the next time”.

KB