AN INDEPENDENT veterinary group with animal surgeries across the region has celebrated 75-years of trading.

The Bishopton Veterinary Group, which has branches in North Yorkshire, was founded in 1943.

Its first practice was in a relatively small premises on North Street in Ripon.

From there, the practice moved into a purpose-built facility and attracted several business partners in 1970.

50 years later, the business would celebrate a cohort of ‘small animal’ branches in Easingwold, Pateley Bridge, Northallerton and Ripon.

The Ripon site would also become a 24-hour emergency centre for animal medical emergencies.

The group’s flagship site, ‘The Ripon Hospital,’ has spent the past several years developing its collection of state-of-the-art life-saving equipment.

The group said the hospital was now able to offer advanced orthopaedic surgery, dermatology, ophthalmology, cardiology, MRI and CT scanning, chemotherapy and acupuncture.

Bishopton Veterinary Group business partner Nigel Woolfenden said: “We are delighted to have reached this significant milestone and are thrilled to be able to celebrate with our valued clients, employees, partners and friends.

“The past 75 years have seen massive changes within our profession and Bishopton Vets has risen to the challenge to become the forward-thinking business it is today.

“We are delighted to be part of the local communities where we are based and look forward to continue to develop these relationships in the future.”

To mark the occasion, a diamond ball was held and attended by staff members, past and present.

One veteran staff member, only known as Mrs Grundy, was presented a cake to celebrate her status as the ‘most vintage member’ of the Bishopton Vets family.

As part of the group’s 75th anniversary, the partners also announced it would actively encourage each member of staff, from across all of its sites, to spend one working day per year to volunteer for a charity of their choice.

Business partner, Jonathan Statham, said the veterinary group was also celebrating a ‘growing level of success’ in rural North Yorkshire. The group said it had been successful in its ‘health scheme packages’ for farmers, which supports a farmers’ animal stock. He said: “Our approach at Bishopton to farm work has always been a proactive one. This preventative health planning approach is backed up by access to competitively priced medicines together with the delivery of a wide range of courses, access to meetings and in-house specialist advice.”