ROY Claydon, a veterinary surgeon who worked and lived in the Okehampton area for almost 35 years, died recently from a chest infection. He was 79. Roy was brought up in Kent and studied at the Royal Veterinary College in London. He worked in Nyasaland (now Malawi) and Shrewsbury before moving to Whitestone Farm near Bovey Tracey. Here he kept a herd of South Devons. In order to support his growing young family he took on the Okehampton veterinary practice of the legendary Peter Fisher in the late 1950s. He was joined later by Bob Young who set up the Chagford branch. With the arrival of Ken Harris the name changed to Claydon Young and Harris and later to Okeford Veterinary Centre when Philip Davies became a partner. Roy was president of Okehampton Agricultural Show, Okehampton Young Farmers and the Western Counties Veterinary Association. He was one of the first to be awarded a diploma in bovine reproduction from the University of Liverpool – no mean feat for a full time veterinary practitioner from Devon. He and his wife, Gillian, farmed at Langabeare Farm near Hatherleigh where they kept a range of cattle. They had success showing Simmentals and Roy was also one of the first in the area to keep Pinzgauers and Chianinas. His practice was always at the front in terms of innovation and he was among the first to carry out embryo transplants on cattle, use acupuncture in small animals, and to have computerised accounts and records. He had the foresight to move from Melrose on Station Road to a purpose-built conversion at The Veterinary Clinic on School Way in 1982. Ill health forced his early retirement in 1992 and he moved to Brenchley in Kent where he could be closer to his family. Sadly, Gillian, who was a pillar of strength to Roy during his years in practice, died almost a year ago. He will be much missed by his daughters Deborah, Stephanie, Lindsey and Philippa and of course by the 12 grandchildren, one of whom is now working as a veterinary surgeon in Cullompton.
