Chris Lewis was announced as the recipient of the British Veterinary Association’s most prestigious scientific award at its Members’ Day on 26^th September for his exemplary service to the veterinary profession and, in particular, the sheep industry throughout an ongoing, active career of 50 years.

The Dalrymple-Champneys Cup and Medal, awarded to mark and recognise work of outstanding merit, were presented to Mr Lewis during the Awards Ceremony at the BVA Members’ Day in Cardiff today (Thursday).

Since graduating from the Royal Veterinary College in 1963 Mr Lewis’s career has encompassed a variety of sectors, including private practice, pharmaceutical industry, Veterinary Investigation Service (now AHVLA), scientific research and publications, education and political endeavours. His enduring talent has been in presenting the common-sense voice of practical and scientific knowledge, providing invaluable advice to MAFF (now Defra) stakeholder groups during the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks of 2001 and 2007, and the bluetongue outbreak 2007-2009.

His apparently limitless energy and unquenchable enthusiasm for sheep veterinary matters has continued to provide inspiration to colleagues in the UK and worldwide. In his various professional roles Mr Lewis has provided invaluable advice to a huge number of general practitioners and the farming fraternity.

Chris Lewis was awarded Honorary Life Membership of the Sheep Veterinary Society in 1999, having previously served as Honorary Secretary and President; and he has continued to represent the society on numerous occasions with very significant contributions to the FMD outbreak in 2001. It is acknowledged that the advice he provided contributed significantly to controlling this major disease outbreak, particularly in the field of biosecurity. Subsequently he acted as an advisor in the 2007 FMD outbreak and in Defra’s bluetongue vaccination strategy group, being a major contributor to the effective control of this disease.

An internationally renowned member of the veterinary community, Mr Lewis is a founder diplomate of the European College of Small Ruminant Health Management, and is also the inaugural secretary of the recently formed International Sheep Veterinary Association. As an extremely erudite, informative and entertaining speaker, he has spoken at many conferences both at home and abroad, and has authored many papers and articles.

On learning that he had been awarded the Dalrymple-Champneys Cup and Medal, Chris Lewis commented: “I was utterly surprised and not a little intimidated to hear that I had been given this award. Intimidated because of the very distinguished list of past recipients but encouraged as it includes the name of Terry Boundy, my great friend and mentor. And I am still overwhelmed that basically a general practitioner should be awarded such a prestigious honour.”