BVA Past-President

Information about the British Veterinary Association (BVA) Past-President, Mr Harvey Locke

Graduating from Liverpool University in 1969, Harvey has been in full time general practice for the last 40 years and feels very fortunate to be as enthusiastic for his chosen career today as the day he graduated. On qualifying he became the fourth consecutive generation of vets in his family.

His great grandfather was President of the RCVS in 1910-11 and his grandfather (who had an equine practice in the centre of Manchester) was President of the RCVS in 1934-35. He is very proud that his niece and his daughter have both recently graduated from Liverpool to join the profession as the fifth consecutive generation.

After spending four years in mixed agricultural practice in Staffordshire, he returned to his native Stockport and small animal practice. In 1976, he established the Woodcroft Veterinary Group which has grown to an 18 vet practice with a Tier 3 hospital and five branch practices. As well as being a busy first opinion practice, Woodcroft Veterinary Group also provides a multidiscipline referral service and an emergency “out of hours” clinic serving 21 local practices.

Harvey has been actively and continuously involved in veterinary politics for over 20 years

  • BVA: BVA Council and Veterinary Policy Group as well as Veterinary Surgeons Act Working Party
  • Britsh Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA): member or chairman of various committees before becoming BSAVA Honorary Secretary and then BSAVA President (1999 - 2000)
  • Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS): RCVS Advisory Committee, 24 Hour Emergency Cover and Veterinary Nurse Code of Conduct Working Parties
  • Union of European Veterinary Practitioners (UEVP): BVA/BSAVA representative, then UEVP Vice President and Board member

Other areas of involvement with the profession include expert witness work for the Veterinary Defence Society and being on the interview panel for undergraduate applicants to Liverpool Veterinary School. He is a RCVS Practice Standards Scheme inspector.

Away from the profession Harvey is married to Margaret and has two daughters, Rachel (26) who is on a management  training programme with the Mars Corporation at Waltham and Helen (25) who is a veterinary surgeon in small animal practice in Lancashire.

He is a governor of a large independent school in Stockport and in what spare time is left enjoys his hobbies – gardening, fell walking and off shore sailing and following Sale Sharks rugby team.

Harvey became BVA Past-President at the BVA annual Congress in September 2011. 

Speeches and photos