The Lord Kirkham KCVO visits Harper Adams University to discover how staff and students are benefitting from Animal Health Trust library donation

Posted 9 July 2021

The Lord Kirkham KCVO with former AHT director Andrew Higgins, Harper Adams University Vice-Chancellor Dr David Llewellyn, and Head of the Harper and Keele Vet School Professor Matt Jones.

Following his generous donation of the Animal Health Trust library to the Harper and Keele Vet School, The Lord Kirkham KCVO visited the Harper Adams campus to understand how the collection was benefitting staff and students.

He was accompanied by former AHT director Andrew Higgins, who has played a pivotal role in preserving much of value from the AHT prior to its recent closure.

They were welcomed by Vice-Chancellor Dr David Llewellyn and spent several hours with the Vet School team, hearing about plans for a permanent display of items from the collection in the new Veterinary Education Centre, as well as the strategic plans for the Vet School itself.

An opportunity to meet with students and staff engaged in clinical skills sessions was organised which helped to highlight the work of the School and Harper Adams more widely.

A visit to the Bamford Library afforded an opportunity to see the ongoing work to incorporate the books and journals into the main library collection. These include many items of historical interest, unique records of AHT research and a wide range of veterinary textbooks from several decades.

Professor Matt Jones, Head of the Vet School, said: “It was an excellent opportunity to personally thank Lord Kirkham for such a generous and impactful donation.

“It also allowed us to talk about our plans more widely and it was interesting to hear feedback from someone so successful in business about our industry links and ambitions for graduates with a sound business education.”

Yorkshireman Lord Kirkham was also present for the official opening of the Veterinary Education Centre by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, Chancellor of Harper Adams University.