In Loving Memory of

2023-07-17 (1)

Alastair Porter

Alastair Porter was born on 28th September 1928 in Glasgow.

Alastair studied law at Oxford University and was called to the Bar in 1952. He spent two years in practice in London before travelling to Northern Rhodesia with his wife Jenny to take up the position of Resident Magistrate in 1954. Alastair and Jenny returned to the UK in 1965, a year after Northern Rhodesia gained independence as Zambia. In 1966 Alastair took on the role of Registrar of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, where he remained until his retirement in 1991. He remained interested in, and involved with, the veterinary and veterinary nursing professions until his death.

Alastair was a great family man. He married Jenny in 1954, and they had a close and loving marriage for almost 69 years. Alastair was also a loving and much loved father, grandfather and great grandfather, and always took particular pleasure in family reunions for special occasions.

He was a keen sportsman throughout his life, with particular passions for cricket and football. As a young man he took pride in having played football for both Oxford University and for Corinthian Casuals. In later life he followed the fortunes of his beloved Brighton and Hove Albion. He very much enjoyed watching England win the third Ashes match at Headingley just before he died. He was also committed to the church, raised in the Scottish Presbyterian tradition but for 50 years or more an active and hard working member of Perrymount Road Methodist Church in Haywards Heath. He was closely involved in the establishment of a partnership between Perrymount Road church and St Paul’s Church in Kaloma, Zambia in 2007, which remains active.

Alastair died peacefully in The Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton on July 12th, 2023, after a short illness. He was 94 years old. We will miss him.

We invite all who knew Alastair, in whatever context, to share memories, stories, photos or messages here. Thank you.

 

Book Owner: Frances Barr
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Sheila Crispin

Sheila Crispin The veterinary profession and the veterinary nursing profession in the United Kingdom owe Alastair a huge debt of gratitude. His diplomatic skills, coupled with a keen sense of humour, were exactly what were needed for the challenges the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) faced when he became Secretary and Registrar in 1966. Most notable of those challenges – to update the veterinary surgeons act, to establish veterinary nursing credentials and to nurture and develop veterinary postgraduate qualifications. To this impressive list of ‘local’ activities can be added his crucial involvement in European matters – development of the European Economic Community (EEC) Professional Directive for Veterinary Surgeons, establishment of the Federation of Veterinarians of the EEC, of which he was the inaugural secretary general, and his membership, as a founding member, of the UK Inter-Professional Group. When Alastair ‘joined’ our profession in 1966 the RCVS register of active members numbered less than 7500 and, in those pre-computer days, keeping the register up to date was a full-time task as it was compiled by hand. Staff members totalled some 20 or so and many of us, early in our careers were welcomed into the grand setting of 32 …
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Dr Sue Paterson FRCVS President of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons

Alastair commanded a great deal of respect within the veterinary professions and the RCVS, having overseen a quarter century of both change and continuity within the veterinary sector and for his dedication to forging closer relations and sharing best practice with our veterinary colleagues in Europe, and with other regulated professions in the UK. His contribution over 25 years at the RCVS was invaluable, as was his continuing interest in and work with the veterinary professions even after retirement. On behalf of RCVS Council and the College staff and also on a personal basis I would like to thank Alastair for his service, and send my condolences to his family and friends.’ …
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Sally Turner

I was saddened to learn of Alastair’s passing.  Although I did not know him well, I did meet him several times via my parents – Jean and Trevor Turner – they were friends as well as colleagues.  Trevor was involved with various RCVS committees and thought very highly of Alaistair.  As a vet student in the late 1980’s  I would tag along to RCVS events with one or both of my parents, and Alastair was always charming, encouraging and enthusiastic, taking the time to chat to me and  to ask how I was getting along at Uni (I think he found it amusing that Cambridge had a vet school but not Oxford!).  He  really was a gentle, gentleman and my thoughts are with his family and close friends.  …
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John and Margaret Cooper

We were deeply saddened to hear the news about Alastair and we send our sympathy to his family. Alastair died on 12th July, the date in 1966 when he admitted John (Cooper) to membership of the RCVS – the first of many certificates signed “A R W Porter” still on our walls. We both knew Alastair (“Mr Porter” for many years initially!) for decades as a friend, as well as a colleague. He wrote the foreword to Margaret’s law book in 1987 and he was Registrar when John served on the College Council from 1980-91. In the 1970s Alastair gave Margaret her first opportunity to write on animal law and together they examined an FRCVS thesis in 2011. In between, he was always willing to listen to issues we raised concerning the application and interpretation of veterinary and animal legislation. We are conscious not only of Alastair’s kindness and wise counsel to us both but also the debt of gratitude the whole profession owes to him for steering veterinary affairs for so long both here in Britain and in the rest of Europe. Alastair should be remembered with affection and thanks by all, especially the Royal College that he served …
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Judy MacArthur Clark

My first encounter with Alastair was in 1972 when he spoke to us, the final year in Glasgow, as was his habit for all the vet schools. He managed to instill in us a respectful fear of the Disciplinary Committee whilst at the same time making us feel welcome and excited to become the next generation of vets. Ten years later, I found myself on RCVS Council and Alastair extended that same warm welcome once again. As the youngest and certainly most inexperienced member of Council, he seemed to understand my frustration about getting things done. He would suggest a morsel of advice which never failed to be both apt and quietly offered. His wisdom and respectfully confident manner helped to gain esteem for the veterinary profession as a leader in European negotiations during the 1980s. It is no exaggeration to say that the European Professional Directive became both workable and effective due to his input in the early years.  Alastair tolerated my sometimes poor time-keeping, naming me the “Late Judy MacArthur” – but always with humour and kindness. In terms of mentors in my life, Alastair surely ranks in the top tier and I’m eternally grateful to have …
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Dr John E Cox FRCVS

I am sorry to hear of Alasdair Porter’s passing away.  I had contact with him for many years when he came to talk to Final Year Veterinary Students at both the Royal Veterinary College and then at the School of Veterinary Science in Liverpool.  He was always interested in the students and they came to value what he had to say and the advice he had to give.  The veterinary profession has lost a good friend and ally.  My condolences to his family.  John Cox …
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Chris Laurence

Alastair was one of life’s real gentlemen.  Always with a well-rehearsed opinion on a wide range of matters but particulrly on the governance of the veterinary profession.  I had the the privilege of being on the Council of the Central Veterinary Society with him (and John Bleby – what a pair!) and his views were invariably welcome and listened to with awe and admiration by us and the wider membership.  I think he did more for the profession’s governance than any other person I know and I would have been fascinated to hear his views on the current rule changes. …
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Jerry Lucke

We were very sorry to hear of the recent death of Alastair. Vanda joins me in passing on our sincere condolences to Frances and all the family. As the last of Alastair’s many presidents, I would like to share a few memories. At an early stage I was welcomed in typical Alastair style with – at last I have a president who lives in The White House – albeit just a small farmhouse on the A38 at Langford. Alastair made a huge contribution to our profession as RCVS Registrar in so many ways. The way in which he forged links with government, other professions and veterinary surgeons worldwide was outstanding. As a RCVS representative I followed in his footsteps with the FVE and the European Commission. His name came up so many times as a friend. By using his gentle persuasion he made a significant contribution to establishing the important role of veterinarians in animal health and food safety in Europe through their training and education. One of the first duties of the new president was to visit all 6 veterinary schools to receive into RCVS membership the new graduates. Alastair was well known to all staff and vice-chancellors …
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Tom Barr

The ‘pop’ noise never stopped being impressive and funny. The football conversations, the gentle ribbing about Scotland v England sports contests, saving the sports section of the newspaper for me to read, making everyone a round of drinks, ‘mowing’ the lawn – all treasured memories. Thank you for everything and we all miss you and love you xx …
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Rachael Collins

Alastair – or Grandpop as he shall always be known to me, was a wonderful and loving presence throughout my life.  One of my favourite memories is talking to him and my Granny Jenny on the phone and them both insisting on being on the phone to us simultaneously – they couldn’t possibly take it in turns!  More recently I loved getting regular emails from him where he decided he would relay his life story to his grandchildren. I read his stories with such fascination and was delighted he shared them with us.  In the last year I was lucky enough to watch him become a great grandfather to my cousins little boy (Eric) and my own son, Magnus. It was wonderful to watch them together, so entranced by each other. They both made each other smile and I’m so glad that they could meet and enjoy each other.  I will miss you terribly Grandpop. How lucky I am to have had you in my life for my 31 years.  …
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