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Gazette |
ON November 17, James Tait Bowie, BSc, MRCVS, of The Garden House, Briery Yards, Hawick, Roxburghshire. Mr Bowie qualified from Edinburgh in 1953.
Ian Sutherland writes: James Bowie was born in Hawick, the son of a farrier, and attended the `Dick' following National Service in the Royal Army Veterinary Corps. On qualifying in 1953, he joined the practice of Jamieson and Ralston in Haddington, East Lothian, where he remained, apart from a short spell in Fife, until he retired as senior partner in 1993.
With his chief interests in farm live-stock and equine practice, Jim became a well loved and respected member of the East Lothian farming community. Early in his career he became a thoroughbred owner and breeder, and also maintained a string of ponies to satisfy the demands of his growing family of three girls, who competed in all areas of equestrian sport. He also served as veterinary surgeon at Kelso and Musselburgh racecourses. Upon retirement he returned to his beloved Borders, purchasing a delightful piece of land on the bank of the Teviot near Hawick, where he built a home and stabling.
Jim's dream was realised when, supported by his devoted wife, Moira, he expanded his breeding and racing activities, winning a number of point-to-point and National Hunt races. His ultimate achievement was to see a horse he had bred and trained win a race with his daughter Alison on board. Although latterly hampered by ill health, Jim rode out daily until last year, and was an enthusiastic member of the Duke of Buccleuch's hunt.
Our sympathies go out to Moira and to his daughters, Jane, Alison and Moira, and their families.
Mr P. G. Francis
IN tribute to Philip George Francis (VR, October 29, 2005, vol 157, p 562), John Edwards writes: I first met Phil Francis when we were students at the Liverpool veterinary school, from where we graduated in 1958. Phil was from a solid Somerset farming family and exhibited a calm, friendly manner. He was a tall, handsome man and, although he was sometimes frustrated by a speech impediment, it seemed only to add to his charm.
After qualifying, he opted for general practice, and eventually bought a practice near Halifax and settled down in West Yorkshire to family life with his wife, Nancy. In 1965, I was privileged to join him as a partner in the then rapidly expanding mixed practice. It was obvious that Phil was extremely popular among his clients, and I was to benefit from working alongside him and marvel at his clinical skills and his sustained hard work, interspersed at times with his mischievous sense of humour.
We continued to share a fruitful and happy partnership for seven years until Nancy tragically died, leaving Phil with three young children to care for. He decided to give up the rigours of day-to-day practice work to carve out a new career in `the MAFF'. It was their gain and our loss.
Jane, who had been a close friend of Nancy and had supported her through her long illness, moved to the south with Phil and the children, and continued unstintingly to look after the young family. Phil and Jane married, and, again with great devotion, Jane cared for Phil during his long and arduous illness.
He will be greatly missed by Jane, his children, Alison, Anne and Paul, daughter-in-law, Lisa, and grandchildren, Jessica, Thea and Lily, for whom he was an excellent role model - industrious, honest, steadfast and reliable under pressure. He will be remembered by all who knew him with great affection and as a credit to the profession.
O'Connor On November 10, Patrick Joseph Mary O'Connor, MVB, MRCVS, of Cremona, Monread, Naas, County Kildare, Ireland. Mr O'Connor qualified from Dublin in 1951.
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