Seahouses, Probus

The meeting of Seahouses Probus was opened by our chairman Ian Wilkinson, who, after apologies and birthday wishes, asked our secretary Fraser Suffield to give us his report.

All was reported to be well.

Our treasurer Forbes Grant then detailed our finances and the satisfactory state of his responsibilities.

We were then introduced to our speaker, Grahame Reavely, who was to give a talk entitled A Vet at Home and Abroad.

Grahame told us that after attending the Bootham School in York, he graduated from the Edinburgh Royal Dick Veterinary College in 1981.

Since then he has worked in Belize, County Cork, and finally, 30 years as a farming vet in North Northumberland and the Borders.

He also found time in 1986 to go to Nepal, India, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand.

This time included working as a locum in Bendigo in Australia.

He told us of the changes that he has seen during his working life in our area and the problems that have arisen.

In particular, he told us how there are far fewer farms than there used to be, but far more livestock on what are now much larger farms.

After questions and answers, the vote of thanks was given by David Morgan, who quite rightly described this fascinating talk as being like a history of farming in this area for the last 30 years.