AN Okehampton vets practice has said a fond farewell to longstanding vet Philip Davies, who has hung up his stethoscope after 37 years.

All at Okeford Veterinary Centre have joined together to wish Philip a happy, well-deserved retirement.

While the practice in which Philip has played such a key part is now a small animal vets, for many years it also treated farm animals and Philip was in the thick of helping his farm clients during the foot and mouth crisis of 2001.

Philip joined the practice, then Claydon, Young and Harris, straight after graduating from Liverpool University in 1983. He became a partner in what became the Okeford Veterinary Centre in 1988 and was sole proprietor from 2004 until 2015. He was clinical director for a further two years and continued to work as a veterinary surgeon until his retirement this year, with his final contribution being keeping things going during the difficult coronavirus lockdown.

Philip has been on the front line helping clients and patients especially during several national crises, Okeford being a mixed practice until 2007 when it moved to focusing on treating small animals.

He has seen a number of changes in the practice and has overseen two major refurbishments benefiting both clients and their animals in Okehampton and helped create new improved facilities in Chagford with surgical facilities and a laboratory.

He has also served as president of the Western Counties Veterinary Association and was president of the Okehampton Show in 2012.

Kirstin Phippard, current clinical director at Okeford Vets, said: ‘Having worked with Philip for the past 20 years, he has created so many extraordinary memories during his 37 years as a veterinary surgeon and has helped so many clients and patients. We would like to thank him from the bottom of our hearts for everything he has done for Okeford and its patients and clients during this time. He will be sorely missed.’

Philip said: ‘I have been really lucky. I have done several jobs within the practice. When we started it was very much a mixed practice vet and as time went on I became more of a small animal vet. It is a fantastic job and you get a great insight into your clients’ lives and it is only after I retired that I have realised how lucky I have been. I have been very fortunate.’