At the British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA), we are currently preparing to celebrate the 60^th anniversary of the association’s launch, which took place on 1^st March 1965. Ahead of our milestone diamond celebrations in 2025, in this blog we delve into the archives to take a look back at the very beginnings of BVNA’s history.

Many things have changed in the past 60 years. Yet our core focus has remained constant – at the heart of everything BVNA stands for, is our members.

Whether you have been working in the VN profession for 5 years or 50, we’d love to hear from any BVNA members who have stories or photos they’d like to share to commemorate this special year with us.

Prior to the official recognition of the term ‘veterinary nurse’, the first veterinary nursing qualification and title was ‘Registered Animal Nursing Auxiliary’ (RANA). Following the qualification of the first RANAs in 1963, it was recognised that there needed to be some form of liaison between RANAs and the wider veterinary profession. With the support of Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Registrar Alastair Porter, a group of dedicated RANAs set up the association in 1965, to be able to assist and support the veterinary nursing profession as it grew.

The BVNA’s original aims were to foster and promote the standard of veterinary nursing, and the interest and status of the Registered Animal Nursing Auxiliary (RANA). However, shortly after the association’s launch, as the title ‘veterinary nurse’ was not yet recognised, BVNA was required to change its name to the ‘British Animal Nursing Auxiliaries Association’ (BANAA). (‘Veterinary nurse’ was finally officially recognised from 1984, allowing the association to revert back to BVNA in January 1985.)

BVNA’s first Council was formed of:

• President: Mr Kenneth Evans MRCVS
• Chairman: Jennifer Townson (No 6 qualified RANA)
• Secretary: Pamela Cooke (No 1 qualified RANA)
• Treasurer: Rosemary Popplewell (No 3 qualified RANA)

The first BANAA Newsletter was published in September 1970, to share news and information amongst the association and the wider RANA profession. Amongst the topics discussed in this first publication were the importance of having a distinctive uniform by which RANAs may be recognised by clients, and debates on whether “to spay or not to spay”. While much has changed within the past 60 years, these are conversations which still continue today!

One of the highlights of our year is also the annual BVNA Congress, which first took place in 1973 at the Hotel Russell in London, before moving to Berkshire College in 1974. The event was originally a one-day event providing lectures and a commercial exhibition, solely to RANAs for the first time in the veterinary events calendar. We celebrated our 50^th anniversary BVNA Congress in 2023, welcoming over 1,500 visitors to Telford International Centre – and today, we’re proud to deliver the UK’s biggest event for RVNs, SVNs, and VCAs.

Throughout 2025, we’ll be re-visiting the archives and sharing more of just how far the veterinary nursing profession has come in the past 60 years. What better way to celebrate ‘Progression’, the presidential theme of current BVNA President Lyndsay Hughes! All getting started from BVNA’s official 60^th birthday on 1^st March 2025, there will be plenty of opportunities to get involved in our celebrations – with regular competitions and prizes for our members, a themed Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month in May, and special features to come at BVNA Congress in October.

From all at BVNA, we would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to all of our members, past and present, who have helped us to stand the test of time to reach this incredible milestone. This year is all about you – please get in touch at bvna@bvna.co.uk with any photos or stories you would be happy for us to share during our diamond year.

We can’t wait to celebrate with you!