March 8th is International Women’s Day, the annual celebration of the achievements and solidarity of women all over the world. To mark this occasion we salute the accomplishments of some of the key women from College history.
Aleen Cust
Aleen studied at the New Veterinary College in Edinburgh under the pseudonym Arno Custance. She applied to the RCVS to sit the first Professional Examination in 1897 but was refused on the grounds of gender.
Nevertheless she continued her studies in Edinburgh which she completed in 1900 but as the position hadn’t changed she was unable to call herself a Veterinary Surgeon. Aleen worked in practice in Roscommon, Ireland, without using the MRCVS title.
The passing of the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919 stated that women were no longer barred from any profession. Cust applied again to the RCVS. Given her professional experience (which included treating injured horses in France during World War 1) she was excused from sitting all but the final examination, which she passed in December 1922.
Joan Joshua
In 1941 women veterinary surgeons were called up for war work while men were considered a reserved occupation and therefore exempt. Though only qualified for 3 years Joan challenged the Ministry of Labour over this discrimination and within 10 days had succeeded in making female veterinary surgeons exempt too.
Joan was a key member of various boards including the Loveday Committee which recommended that veterinary education be conducted solely in the university sector.
In 1950 she became the first woman to be awarded the RCVS Fellowship for her research on canine leptospirosis, and three years later became the first woman elected to the RCVS Council.
Society of Women Veterinary Surgeons
The Society of Women Veterinary Surgeons (SWVS) was founded in 1941by Joan Joshua and Margaret Bentley, with the key aim of the full integration of women in the profession. The Society advocated for the role of women in veterinary education, research and practice. In addition, the Society worked on joint-initiatives with the National Council of Women.
From 1969 the SWVS’s Charitable Trust offered financial support to women in the profession. By 1990 the Society felt it had achieved its aims and closed. The Trust continued to finance female students until 2005.
Image: Presidential chain of office, archive reference SWVS/1/7
Olga Uvarov
Olga Uvarov survived a traumatic childhood in the Russian Revolution during which most of her family perished. Through the American Red Cross she was able to join her uncle in London. She graduated from the RVC in 1934, and whilst in practice collaborated on articles published in the Veterinary Record and undertook animal inspections for the RSPCA.
Olga was a keen member of the Society of Women Veterinary Surgeons and was elected their President for 1947-9. Later she served as President of the Central Veterinary Society for the 1951/2 term.
Archive reference: OU/2/4
After ten years in practice Olga joined Glaxo Laboratories undertaking clinical research and eventually became head of their Veterinary Advisory Department. During this time Olga became the first female President of the Association of Veterinary Teachers and Research Workers, for the 1967/8 term.
Olga was elected a Fellow of the RCVS in 1973 and Junior Vice-President of RCVS in 1975. In 1976 Olga was unanimously elected President of the RCVS, thus becoming the first woman to hold the College’s highest office.
Into her seventies Olga was still publishing research papers. She received various honorary fellowships and was made a Dame in 1983.
Connie Ford
Connie’s ambition was to work in cattle fertility but found that her gender was used against her. After having several agricultural job applications turned down, she joined the Women’s Land Army in 1942 and proved that she was capable of such strenuous physical work.
After the end of the war Connie restarted her career in the Veterinary Investigations Office, work which allowed her to test her theories that fertility could be improved by access to good quality water and mineral-rich feed. She published many papers on related subjects and spoke at various conferences. For her work she was awarded an MBE in 1970.
In retirement Connie published a biography of Aleen Cust, for which the RCVS awarded her the JT Edwards Memorial Medal in 1992.
Dr. Andrea Jeffery
Andrea was the first veterinary nurse to chair the RCVS Veterinary Nurses Council. During her time in office Andrea oversaw the creation of the first Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Nurses. In 2010 she became the first veterinary nurse to sit on the RCVS Council.
Along with Hilary Orpet Andrea co-developed the Orpet and Jeffery Ability Model which promoted a holistic approach to patient care. In 2015 the two received the Bruce Vivash Jones Veterinary Nurse Award for their outstanding contribution to the advancement of small animal veterinary nursing.
In 2024 she received the RCVS Golden Jubilee Award for her distinguished career and leadership role within the profession.
Dr Mandisa Greene
Growing up in Trinidad Mandisa was inspired to become a veterinary surgeon at a young age, when her mother would bring home stray animals from the local neighbourhood.
Mandisa, was first elected to Council in 2014, and became Chair of the Practice Standards Group, which coordinates the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme. She was also a member of the Primary Qualifications Subcommittee and the Legislation Working Party. Mandisa also served on the Standards Committee and chaired the Extra-Mural Studies Coordinators Liaison Group.
Mandisa was the first person from an ethnic minority background to be elected RCVS Junior Vice-President and became the College’s first Black President in 2020.
Covid restrictions meant that the ceremony to swear Mandisa in as RCVS President had to take place virtually. Without access to the official Presidential chain, Mandisa’s two children made this alternative version, which they placed around her neck during the ceremony.
