A WELL respected vet, author, musician, photographer and skilled raconteur who was much loved in Teesdale and beyond has died.
Neville Turner died on May 25, aged 76. The “dales vet” , was known for his generous spirit, caring and entertaining nature.
Mr Turner grew up in Weardale before heading to Edinburgh University, where he graduated with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery in 1968. He arrived in Barnard Castle in 1973 to take up the position as a veterinary surgeon, covering more than a “million miles” on country roads around Teesdale during his career. He loved his work, specialising in farm animals, but retired at 55 to spend more time on his hobbies. Such was his love for the farming community he came out of retirement in 2001 to help fight the foot-and-mouth disease.
In an interview in 2016, on publication of his autobiography, The Dales Vet, he said: “I got excited about going to work. I loved my work. There were so many other things I hadn’t had time to do and physically the farm animals are quite demanding. I wanted to write, take photographs, play in brass bands, do the garden and cruise.”
He was an active member of Middleton and Teesdale Silver band for many years, having inherited the love of brass band music from his father.
He was also in high demand as an “enrichment speaker” on cruise liners. He went on 30 cruises to such places as Rio de Janeiro, Dubai, the Arctic Circle, Mexico and Odessa, in the Ukraine, telling tourists from around the globe about Teesdale. When asked how he got into public speaking, he once said: “At the time James Herriot was very popular and I think the Women’s Institutes thought that all vets were great raconteurs, and I thought it would be rather boorish to turn them down.”
His photographs, shot in Teesdale, once became part of a marketing strategy for whisky brand The Famous Grouse. He wrote extensively about his work in the likes of The Field, The Shooting Times, The Times, The Daily Mail, Dalesman, Countryman, The Yorkshire Journal and Country Letters.
Three years after retiring he published his first book, Hill Farmer, which was an instant hit. At one book signing at the Teesdale Mercury, the queues stretched into the street. Mr Turner’s second book, The Border Collie, followed in 2013. His third – an autobiography – gave an insight into his working life in Teesdale and was published in 2016. It contained literary sketches on topics including judging at agricultural shows, and “having the best job in the world” .
He was a patron and supporter of many charities, groups and organisations.
Mr Turner was instrumental in establishing farm charity Utass (Upper Teesdale Agricultural Support Services) and he was also a founding patron of the animal sanctuary, Ark on the Edge.
Paying tribute to Mr Turner, Pat Kingsnorth, from Ark on the Edge, said: “He was much loved and thought of. He takes with him a wealth of knowledge. He has supported, inspired and taught us here at Ark on the Edge – for which we are truly grateful.”
Diane Spark, Utass project manager, said: “We will always remember Neville, a truly inspiration character. He knew every farmer in the dale.
“He had charisma and enthusiasm in abundance and being in his company was always an absolute pleasure.”
Andrew Nicholson, from Barnard Castle Band, said: “I am absolutely devastated to learn of the passing of the great Neville Turner, a true gentleman, friend, bandsman and vet of the highest calibre. The world is a worse place already.”
