Kenneth Day

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Kenneth Day (1921-2006) was an English veterinarian.

Kenneth Day was born on 26th March 1921. He went to school at St Olave’s Grammar School, in the shadow of London Bridge, London, England. He studied veterinary medicine at the Royal Veterinary College, in Camden Town, from 1938 to 1944. During the war years, he was evacuated out to Sonning and Streatley. He took on work with horses, to study the trade and likewise took a job as cowman, for the same purpose. He joined the Officers Training Corps and later the Home Guard, when he was passed unfit for active service, due to a knee injury and surgery.

Having qualified as a Veterinary Surgeon in 1944, he joined the practice of Townley Filgate, in Faringdon, Berkshire (now Oxfordshire), and became a farm practitioner and countryman. He first lived in a room in Pidnell Farm, Clanfield, Oxfordshire, with his wife Evelyn. His first son was born there, in February 1945. He then moved to Stanford in the Vale, in the Vale of White Horse. His second son was born in January 1947. He had an active interest in gardening, nutrition, geology, history and the classics.

During his veterinary career, he saw through the eradication of both Tuberculosis and Brucellosis, on the beef and dairy farms of the Vale. He also took an active interest and role in veterinary preventive medicine and cattle nutrition. His career spanned the era from the old art of veterinary practice and the time of modern antibiotic, vaccine and drug medicine.

He moved to Guiting Power in Gloucestershire, in 1978. He took on the role of Farm Director for Guiting Manor Farm, helping to run a 1,000 acre (4 km²) arable and sheep farm. His wife became a trustee of Guiting Power Amenity Trust. He continued his veterinary work in the Vale of White Horse.

He suffered a coronary in 1985 and had double by-pass cardiac surgery in 1988. Despite this, he was able to continue his work in Guiting Power and take on a job as church warden there. He retired from veterinary practice at this time. He kept up his interest in gardening and his garden remained open to the public throughout.

He died on 2nd April, 2006, having long fought cancer with courage and his great sense of humour, staying active until his last week of life.