For Strathspey vet retirement is for heifer and heifer!
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Some professionals expect a gold watch or a clock when they call it a day. But what do vets expect?
For much-loved Andrew Rafferty it was an amazing gift of not just one young heifer but two.
“A red one and a white one,” said crofter Ruaridh Ormiston after the presentation.
“It was a sad occasions but a happy day as our vet received his retirement gift of two lovely two-year old pedigree Shorthorn Heifers.”
Mr Ormiston explained: “We wanted to say a big thank you as well to Jane Harley and Fiona Patterson at his Strathspey Veterinary Centre for pulling this off - and to farmers John Kirk, John Macgillvary and Vic Watson for choosing the gift from the whole farming community.
“I think there were over 90 donations in all. It just goes to show that Andrew is a very highly thought of vet indeed.”
Messrs Kirk and Watson were entrusted with acquiring the two charming beasts from John and Jill Redpath of Knowehead Farm, Glen Isla. “They are the product of some real quality bloodlines,” said Mr Ormiston, “much like Andrew himself!
“For all of us that remember Andrew's dad George, I think they have been supporting our community for probably 70 years now as the father and son team at Strathspey vets.”
Indeed, the legendary George started in Grantown in 1954 and won a place in the hearts of TV viewers and readers of good books.
Son Andrew - BVM&S, Cert CHP Cert SHP MRCVS - graduated from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in Edinburgh 1977 and after spending several years in mixed practice took over Strathspey Veterinary Centre from his father in 1991.
He worked primarily with farm animals and undertook many of the routine farm visits .
Away from work he was kept busy on his own farm and likes to get hill walking with his dogs.
