Paddy Davison – Vet Education Veterinary Consultant
Paddy Davison was born in Yorkshire in 1938, educated at Taunton School (where he won the Victor Ludorum), and the University of Bristol (where he played rugby for the University). He undertook the veterinary course with extreme thoroughness and was in his eighth year when he eventually qualified. Apart from his veterinary degree, he left the University with a pilot’s licence courtesy of the University Air Squadron, two children and a wife (not necessarily in that order). He served in the Royal Army Veterinary Corps in Germany, Northern Ireland, Cyprus and in London with the King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery; he was responsible for both canine and equine military training at Melton Mowbray.
Most of his professional career was spent in Southern Africa (Zambia, Malawi and Botswana) where he inaugurated the Flying Vet Service (flying his own aircraft) and treated game animals, racehorses and family pets. Later he did consultancy work with the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club, the Dogs Home Battersea, Wood Green Animal Shelters, the Welcome Foundation and in Dubai and Jersey. Finally he returned to The University of Bristol where his administrative skills, vast experience and youthful enthusiasm made him a highly successful University Veterinary Officer until his retirement.
He has owned trained and ridden with success on the flat and over the sticks and rode in the Grand Military at Sandown when nearly 50 years of age. He is a keen fisherman and has fished for elusive and expensive salmon in Scotland, Ireland, Norway, Iceland, Canada and Russia, but mostly on the River Usk in Wales. His other great love was the fearsome Cresta Run in St Moritz which he rode for many years, captaining the Army team in the Inter-services races. He is married with seven children and 18 grandchildren and lives in Somerset with an exhausted wife and an elderly Labrador!