THE life of a veterinary surgeon who lived and worked in Chagford for more than 40 years was celebrated at a service of thanksgiving last Friday (February 14).

Bob Young died on January 31 aged 77. Having qualified as a veterinary surgeon from Bristol Veterinary School, Bob came to live and work in Chagford. He was in partnership with Roy Claydon, running a practice called Claydon and Young.

They were later joined by Ken Harris, and the practice changed its name to Claydon, Young and Harris before it adopted its current name of Okeford Veterinary Centre. Its name represents the towns and areas around Chagford and Okehampton that it serves.

Mr Young was president of the Western Counties Veterinary Association and went on to excel on the national stages of veterinary politics as president of the Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons and the British Veterinary Association. He was also proud of being a founding director of the company Vetswest. Initially a group of nine practices in North Devon that traditionally competed fiercely for business, Vetswest now has more than 220 member practices and has a prominent national presence.

For over a decade Mr Young was a trustee of the Veterinary Benevolent Fund. The charity helps veterinary surgeons whose lives have had calamities of various sorts such as ill health, addiction and business or relationship failures. He was very active in helping to raise money and ensure the fund was administered in a responsible fashion.

He was also active in Chagford as a chairman of the parish council and a chairman of the recreational trust. He served as president of both Chagford and Okehampton agricultural shows and was the first chairman of Okehampton and District Round Table.

His last year in practice was 2001, the year of the foot and mouth epidemic. He enjoyed a busy retirement by studying for an Open University degree, travelling and being a committed member of the Chagford Golf Society.

The service of thanksgiving was conducted by the Rev Paul Seaton-Burn and the Rev John Withers. Eulogies were given by Nigel Price, Philip Davies, David George and Bob's daughter Caroline Lang.

Poems were read by Michael Rhodes and Mr Young's grand-daughter Freya Shaylor. The song 'Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again' from Phantom of the Opera was sung by another of his grand-daughters Harriet Lang. The final poem 'He Wishes for Cloths of Heaven' by W B Yeats was read by Mr Young's wife Lorna, who also gave a final tribute.