Chris joined the RSPCA in 1998 as Assistant Chief Veterinary Officer and was promoted to Chief Veterinary Officer in 1999.  His duties covered both the operational work of the RSPCA in veterinary clinics, the inspectorate and re-homing centres, and representing the Society in a variety of situations where animal welfare across all species was being discussed.  This varied from presentations to many veterinary and lay audiences on animal welfare to representation at the highest levels of government in the UK and in the European forum.

Chris left the RSPCA in 2003 to take up the post of Veterinary Director for Dogs Trust.  Although this primarily focuses his work on dogs he retains an interest in other species and is a Trustee of the Feline Advisory Bureau.  He continues to be asked to speak on animal welfare issues to a variety of audiences and the media in the UK and abroad.

Chris has been a regional officer of BSAVA, and is Secretary of the Central  Division of BVA.  He has been President of the BVHA for two years ending in October 2003 and is a Council member of the Society of Greyhound Veterinarians. 

An officer in the Territorial Army for almost 38 years, he retired in 2002 with the rank of Colonel.  Chris was awarded the Queens Volunteer Reserves Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2002 and an MBE in June 2007 for services to animal welfare.

Chris (a DIY fanatic) is married to Sheila and they have two children, who are both engineers, and three grandchildren. They also have two Golden Retrievers, Elizabeth (Libby) and Margaret (Maggie) and a tabby cat, Prudence (Pru).