West Mount Vets
Richard Holborow BVSc MBA MRCVS
Richard Holborow grew up on a dairy farm
in the Cotswolds and qualified as a vet from Liverpool University in 1975.
His first jobs were in Sheffield and Corringham and he worked for a while
as a locum. Richard first visited this part of Yorkshire while walking
the Pennine Way, with his wife Maggie. Much taken with the beauty of the
area and the wealth of local activities, and realising that there were
no local vets, they moved to Hebden Bridge in 1981 and Richard set up
the Bankfoot House surgery. At first he was the only vet in the practice
and was on-call every day and night of the year, except for brief holidays.
He was very relieved when the practice expanded to allow the employment
of an additional vet to share the work-load. That second vet was Clare,
who later became an equal Partner in the business.
Since the early 1980s the practice has grown to include five surgeries with about 40 employees, and Richard found himself needing to spend much more time running the business. Realising that more professional management was needed he studied part-time for a business degree (MBA) at Huddersfield University and qualified (with distinction) in 2002. Richard is also a Council Member of the Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons and is currently Honorary Secretary - a role which keeps him in close touch with matters affecting current and future developments in veterinary practice.
Richard and Maggie have two sons, Peter and George, who have both attended the local Calder High School. The whole family has very much enjoyed living in this area, participating in local events such as the Round Table Bonfire, the Rotary Boundary Walk, the Hebden Bridge Festival and the numerous local theatrical, musical and sporting activities. It was a fortunate chance that the Pennine Way passes nearby!
