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.