Professor Richards awarded prestigious Medal

Professor R. H. Richards, C.B.E, a long standing member of the Editorial Board of World Agriculture has been awarded the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons' Queen's Medal. 

A renowned fish vet. Professor R. H. Richards, CBE,MA, Vet.MB, Ph.D, C.Biol, FRSB, FRSM, MRCVS, FRAgS, was is the recipient of this year’s Queen’s Medal, the highest honour the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) can bestow upon a veterinary surgeon.

There have been only two previous recipients of this medal. The first was Des Thompson, a Northern Irish vet. and the second was Professor Lord Soulsby, veterinary peer in the House of Lords.

Professor Richards is an Emeritus Professor at the Institute of Aquaculture at the University of Stirling and has long been an advocate of animal welfare, particularly fish health and welfare. He is a member of the editorial boardS of World Agriculture and the Veterinary Record and Vice-Chairman of the Moredun Foundation, a charity that promotes high standards for animal health and welfare through research and education.

He was Director of the Institute of Aquaculture from 1996 to 2009, and he currently serves on numerous veterinary committees and advisory groups.  Professor Richards said: “I’m absolutely delighted and feel incredibly honoured to be the recipient of the RCVS Queen’s Medal. It is particularly satisfying to receive this recognition from my veterinary peers.”

He was nominated by fellow veterinary surgeon Dr Peter Jeffries, Chief Executive for the Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicines (GALVmed). Dr Bradley Viner, President of the RCVS praised Professor Richard’s life-long dedication to pioneering the importance of fish health and welfare within the broader veterinary world, especially that in the field of aquaculture.

The nomination was supported by Professor Julie Fitzpatrick OBE, Scientific Director and Chief Executive of the Moredun Research Institute, and Peter Wells, Honorary Professor of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics at the University of Nottingham, Chairman of Moredun Scientific and Chairman of GALVmed. Dr Bradley Viner, President of the RCVS, presented Professor Richards with the Medal.