BVNA Congress is always a special event – but in 2019, for Honorary Member Paul Crawford and his now-wife Holly, it even included an engagement! As we commemorate BVNA’s 60^th year, Holly shares with us how BVNA Congress brought her and Paul together, their memorable wedding during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the life they have shared since.

“On BVNA’s 60^th anniversary year, I thought you might like to hear about another anniversary story.

Most people leave conferences with some pencils, keyrings and maybe a mug. I left with a husband!

As a journalist for a veterinary publication, I travelled to many conferences including BVNA Congress, where I interviewed, for a feature, a certain veterinary surgeon called Paul Crawford. He had won an award for his work within the VN sector and I was interviewing him about it. I thought him very handsome. And I will be forever grateful to Fiona who gave him the award which enabled us to meet.

I will also be eternally grateful to whoever got the table plans mixed up at the quiz that evening. Paul didn’t have a seat where he was meant to and ended up next to me, poor love.

We were friends for years until I finally realised he liked me as much as I liked him. After the briefest of spells being boyfriend and girlfriend, Paul got down on one knee and proposed… In the very conference room in which we first met! I said yes straight away. Well, one I’d stopped blubbing happy tears!

We were due to tie the knot in May 2020. (That went well!) But as soon as weddings were allowed, we got married in Christ Church, Ware, Hertfordshire with 25 guests. It was the most beautiful day and I had the most gorgeous groom ever!

Yes, we had to cut the guest list in half, scrap the hotel reception, have our first dance in the church carpark and cut the cake from the boot of Paul’s car – but at least it was memorable!

I relocated to Northern Ireland and now live with Paul and his flock of 200 Dorset sheep. I’ve even learnt to milk cows!

We have since been blessed with our gorgeous son, Rowan Barry Ernest Crawford, who is a fantastic farm assistant even though he is only 17 months old.

And so while BVNA celebrates its 60^th anniversary, Paul and I celebrate our fifth wedding anniversary.

I have the veterinary nursing profession to thank for changing my life for the better. In fact. Thank you doesn’t even seem like enough. But thank you anyway, you are the best. Love you forever, Paul and Baby Rowan.”