Page 23 - Chiron Calling Spring 2017

Lt Will Blackley one of the new veterinary of cers interviewed by Lt Lucy Hardwick.
Firstly where did you grow up?
Manchester is where I grew up and where I still consider home to be. I attended William Hulme’s Grammar school at the south of Manchester until I was eighteen where I completed my A Levels.
Where did you study and what did you most enjoy at University?
On completion of my A Levels I went to Edinburgh University to study veterinary medicine and surgery. I particularly enjoyed the later years of the course when it became more clinical and there was less emphasis on anatomy!
What made you want to join the Army?
I wanted to join the Military from a young age and on choosing to study veterinary science at university the Royal Army Veterinary Corps was the obvious choice. I wanted a lifestyle different to that in civilian practice with the opportunity to travel and hopefully deploy on Exercise and Operations.
What have you done since graduating?
Following graduation I worked at South elds Veterinary Practice based in Sale, South Manchester as a small animal vet. I then joined the Army in October last year completing the Professionally
Will Blackley
Quali ed Of cer’s course at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, passing out on the 15th December. The highlight of Sandhurst for me was getting caught my Colour Sergeant for cutting my own hair, badly, in desperation for it to look tidy on parade! Moving to Whittington Barracks in Lich eld in the New Year I then underwent my Entry Of cer’s Course, which was my phase 2 training. Following this I completed my Patrol Dog Handler’s Course where I was assigned Django, the Dutch Herder, whose bite was very much worse than his bark!
Where are you based now?
I am currently based at the Veterinary Training Squadron (VTS) at the Defence Animal Centre in Melton Mowbray for four weeks. As new veterinary of cers we are undergoing ten months of clinical rotations before starting our postings. The purpose of these clinical rotations is to develop our con dence and competence across a range of clinical skills in order to complete our Professional Development Phase (PDP) which is stipulated by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).
Where are you heading next?
In three weeks time I am heading to Knightsbridge for my equine rotation at the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment. For the next nine months I am rotating round placements at the PDSA in Leicester, Vets4Pets in Peterborough, 104 Military Working Dog Squadron and back at VTS. I am due to become the Veterinary Of cer at 102 Military Working Dog Squadron at the start of September.
What sports do you play?
Throughout university I played Rugby and Rugby 7s for the Vet School team. In the future I am very much hoping to play for the RAVC team...and especially keen to play in Cyprus!
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CHIRON CALLING 21