THE Castle Probus Club met for their monthly meeting on Wednesday, June 13 at the New Pavilion of the Somerset County Cricket ground. As it was ladies day no business was scheduled, therefore the President, Tony Vickery, opened the meeting by extending a warm welcome to members and their wives with a special welcome to the President of The Taunton Ladies Probus Club, Mrs Joan Town. The President then said he was delighted to introduce today's speaker, Keith Markham, who was to give a talk entitled My Life as a Vet'.

Opening his talk Keith said he started his career in 1956 when he joined a Veterinary Practice in Langport, initially becoming a very junior member. There being a number of Vets in the practice they tended to specialise in particular animals, and he soon established a rapport with pigs when he carried out many vaccinations against Swine Fever, pigs soon becoming his favourite. One highlight concerning the species was the occasion when a farmer complained that his pigs were getting sunburnt, upon visiting the farm he found the farmer, having no appropriate barrier cream, had used 3 in 1 cycle oil to protect the pigs, needless to say this exacerbated the situation rather than providing a solution and the oil had to be removed with washing up liquid.

Keith then continued with many humorous tales that had his audience in fits of laughter, covering such items as calving in cattle(not so funny at times), to the problems encountered with domestic animals and pets, owners were invariably concerned that their pets would have to be put down, probably not realising that in general Vets have a vested interest in keeping animals alive.

One interesting item concerned AI, very much a vet's job over the years, this task now being carried out by farmers themselves after a short course of instruction. In closing his talk Keith covered a multitude of items, from the problems of flooding in the Langport area to multiple births in domestic pets. After a most interesting question and answer session, a vote of thanks to Keith from the floor was given by Barrie Godspill.