The History of Aireworth Veterinary Centre

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons was founded in 1844, from those Gentlemen who had at that time obtained Veterinary qualifications from either of the two veterinary colleges then teaching in London and Edinburgh of which there were about one thousand. In 1877 there were 3 registered Veterinary Surgeons resident in Keighley. Samuel Seed, at Victoria Avenue, Percy Brownrigg, at Skipton Road and George Willain Carter at Townfield. We do not know what, if any, connection these men had with each other but Mr Carter was the senior, having qualified in London in March 1875, and must at this time be considered the founder of our practice. He later obtained a Fellowship by examination in 1877. In 1910 Hubert Marsden Holland, joined George Carter having also qualified in London in 1907. Mr Carter retired to Knaresborough in 1912 where in 1929 he committed suicide by cutting his own throat with a razor at the age of 75 years. Mr Holland obtained his Fellowship of Royal College in 1913 on the basis of the Thesis on the subject of Fistulae. He continued to run the practice with the help of assistants until George Ronnald (Ronnie) Bargh BSc, joined him in partnership in 1944. In 1951 Mr Holland decided to retire when he continued to live in Utley until his death in 1965 aged 79 years. Mr Bargh chose to return to run the family farms and haulage firm at Caton in Lancashire. In 1951 Murdo Ferguson, became assistant to Mr Holland and in 1952 his friend Donald Campbell joined him, both of whom were graduates of the Glasgow College when the tow of them bought the practice. They ran it together until 1956 when Mr Ferguson tragically died while returning from a house call in Cottingley. George Edward Crabtree, another London graduate, joined Mr Campbell in 1956 and they continued to run the business with the help of various assistants until 1962 when John Michael Green BVSc, a Bristol graduate who had worked in the practice since 1958 joined them. In 1969 Mr Campbell, having suffered failing health for some time decided to move into a more administrative position with the M.A.F.F. He later went on to work for the P.D.S.A after which he went into retirement in Nottinghamshire, Mr Campbell past away in 2004. Thomas Michael Russell, BVMS replaced Mr Campbell in 1970, having worked for a time in Bedale after graduating from Glasgow in 1961. In early 1971 Mr Crabtree suffered a heart attack and decided to retire to a less stressful life. He continues to live in Laycock in retirement. Leonard Joseph Greaves BVMS, who joined us from Pontefract and had been a contemporary of Mr Russell at Glasgow, filled his place in the practice in 1971. In 1985 Mr Russell died suddenly while treating a sick cow in Lothersdale. Colin Willam Thomson, BVM&S, an Edinburgh graduate came to the practice in 1986 from Scotland and the partnership was expanded to four in 1989 when David Scrymgeour Green BVSc, joined the other three. Mr D.S Green was awarded his Certificate in Equine Practice in 1992. Mr Green senior retired in 1999 and was succeeded by Matthew J Butterell, BVSc, who joined the partnership in 2000. Mr Butterell was awarded his Certificate in Equine Surgery in 2001. Mr Greaves retired in 2004 and was succeeded by Nicola J Green, BVSc, who joined the practice in 1989.