06/01/2012Posted : January 06, 2012
Veterinary technician receives MBE in New Year honours

An RVC technician who teaches anatomy skills to schoolchildren and their teachers, as well as veterinary undergraduates, has been awarded an MBE.

Andrew Crook has worked for the college for more than 30 years and was named as a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2012 New Year Honours list earlier this month, for services to veterinary science.

Mr Crook said he was extremely honoured to receive the honour.  

"It is wonderful to know that I have the support of so many colleagues at the RVC and I would like to thank all those who have contacted me since the new year with such kind wishes," he said.

He joined the Royal Veterinary College straight from school in the 1980s and became chief technician at the college in 2000.

Though not a vet himself, in his role Mr Crook has become actively involved in the RVC's "widening participation" agenda to get young people from diverse and disadvantaged backgrounds interested in veterinary science.  

"My main role is to teach anatomy during practicals and provide technical support the rest of the time," he told vetsonline.

"We run weekly 'afternoon anatomy' sessions for inner city school groups, and play a big part in Easter and summer school events. I recently started a Professional Development Planning session where teachers came along to get a feel for how to re-introduce dissection back into schools and colleges which was a great success."

An RVC spokesman said Mr Crooks' activities had made an enormous contribution to veterinary education, both with RVC students and visitors.

"All of this effort is on top of his daily job of managing and teaching anatomy to an ever improving standard," he said.

"Many congratulations to Andrew on this fantastic achievement which is richly deserved."