Farewell, Lorraine

Lorraine has been described as an inspiration, a dedicated professional, and a true master of her profession, in a career where she educated thousands of veterinary nurses over the years, and laid the foundations for part-time and flexible RVN training courses over her decades in the profession.

She graduated from the University of Liverpool in 1975 and went on to obtain her assessor awards, a certificate and post-graduate certificate, and a master’s in education.

She took up a position at Cambridge vet school lecturing on anaesthesia. She met her husband Robert while working at Holroyd’s in Blackburn, and the couple went on to run practices together and raise a family, during which time Lorraine became the official veterinary surgeon at British Beef in Bamber Bridge.

She also established a veterinary nursing course at what was then Lancashire College of Horticulture and Agriculture, before the rebrand to Myerscough College in 1993, and she also helped establish the first block release RVN training course in the North West. Over the years, Lorraine played a key part in the making the College's Veterinary Nursing department arguably the most successful in the country.

Alison Robinson, Chief Executive and Principal of Myerscough College, said: ‘’Lorraine’s death is an incredible shock to us.

‘’She will be very sadly missed by us all. Lorraine had been involved with the College at the Hutton campus doing voluntary work before she joined our Myerscough team nearly 30 years ago. She had therefore worked with some of our staff for very many years and was Myerscough through and through.

‘’Despite being of retirement age, Lorraine was not ready to hang up her boots and was still ready for new adventures. Lorraine has played a leading role in supporting not just Equine, Veterinary Nursing and Farriery but was looking forward to playing a significant role within the veterinary provision and expansion in the future.

‘’Lorraine loved her job, her colleagues and the Veterinary and Veterinary Nursing professions and was a brilliant advocate for Veterinary Nursing, Equine and Farriery. She would always fight for her team’s corner whilst being aware of the wider picture, being open, honest and incredibly caring to her team and others around her. She had a brilliant sense of humour and a huge warm heart. Lorraine was one of our most respected and trusted staff and managers and is a huge loss for our whole Myerscough team.’’

Kathy Kissick, former Head of School for Veterinary Nursing & Farriery Science at Myerscough, and colleague of Lorraine for many years, said: “The news of Lorraine’s death has shocked us all, she has taught thousands of student veterinary nurses and the consensus among so many of them is that she was an inspiration, a dedicated professional, a lovely lady and a legend.

“Lorraine was born to be a vet, and she was a giant talent in her field. She could diagnose most things at a glance, even before she had laid hands on her patient, and what hands they were.

“As a surgeon, she was magic to watch at work, swift with the scalpel and accurate too, delicate yet decisive. She was a true master.”

Our sincere condolences go to her son, Robert, daughter, Helen, and the rest of Lorraine’s family. Rest in peace, Lorraine, we will all miss you deeply.

Lorraine’s family have requested donations to the Rosemere Cancer Foundation, should well-wishers choose to do so. You can donate via the link HERE