Officers
DR HARRY GREENWAY
Dr Harry Greenway has served the cause of equestrianism for 50 years, as a school teacher, as a Member of Parliament, as the only President of the National Equine Welfare Council and the Association of British Riding Schools, and as a Member of the Council (and latterly Trustee) of The British Horse Society.
As a Member of Parliament, Dr Greenway introduced a Private Members Bill, later to become the Horses (Protective Headgear for Young Riders) Act 1990. This measure has undoubtedly led to a significant reduction in the number of serious injuries suffered by young riders.
As a Trustee of The British Horse Society (and formerly as a Member of the BHS Council) Dr Greenway has brought a sharp and informed mind to discussions, whether on matters relating to welfare, financial propriety or - a particular passion of his - the extending of equestrian opportunities to young people, especially those from backgrounds in which horse riding does not usually feature. His distinguished period of service with the BHS lasted some 33 years.
As NEWC's President he has ensured that the many equine organisations which work for the well-being of horses, ponies and donkeys have been able to work together effectively and efficiently. He has hosted publications and events launches on behalf of NEWC and is always on hand to offer advice and support with whatever important work NEWC is currently undertaking.
VICE PRESIDENT
LESLEY BARWISE-MUNRO BVM&S BSc CertEP MRCVS
Lesley Barwise-Munro graduated from The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies (RDSVS) in 1986. Since then she has worked as an equine practitioner with the Aln Veterinary Group, now part of the Alnorthubria Veterinary Group. Lesley is Senior Veterinary Surgeon for Newcastle Racecourse and also carries out local point to point duties. Her main areas of clinical expertise are lameness, respiratory disease, dentistry and how they influence performance. As time allows, Lesley enjoys hunting and has two daughters who are active members of the Percy Hunt Pony Club.
In 1992 she completed her RCVS Certificate in Equine Practice and in 1998 joined BEVA Council and was elected as President in 2005. During her time on Council she worked with the Government and the major animal welfare organisations developing the recent Animal Welfare Act 2006. This work was recognised with the presentation of The Blue Cross Equine Welfare Award by HRH the Princess Royal at BEVA Congress in 2006.
Lesley has driven forward the development of the Equine Health and Welfare Strategy for Great Britian as well as playing a key role in developing the Equine Industry Welfare Guidelines Compendium, and is currently driving forward the changes to the law on the licensing of livery yards.
VICE PRESIDENT
DR ELISABETH SVENDSEN
Dr Elisabeth D Svendsen, MBE who founded The Donkey Sanctuary, was born in Yorkshire in 1930 and, although her love of donkeys started at a very early age, it was not until she was married, with a family and helping her husband to run the Salston Hotel at Ottery St Mary in Devon, that she was able to own her first donkey.
Naughty Face joined the family in 1969, quickly followed by a donkey named Angelina. Becoming more and more interested in donkeys, Dr Svendsen joined the Donkey Breed Society and became their Area Representative and, visiting Exeter Market one day she saw something that changed her life - seven poor little donkeys crammed in a small pen. She tried to buy the donkey in the worst condition, without success, and from that moment on she decided that, instead of breeding donkeys, she would try to save them.
The donkey family grew and grew, and in 1973 The Donkey Sanctuary was registered as a charity. Dr Svendsen had 38 donkeys under her care when, in June of that year, she received a phone call from a solicitor who was the Executor of the Estate of the late Miss Philpin, a lady who had cared for donkeys at her Sanctuary near Reading in Berkshire. The solicitor explained that Dr Svendsen had been left a legacy - of 204 donkeys! With the help of the Charity Commission the two charities merged, and from then on the lives of the Svendsen family changed completely! Their house in the grounds of the hotel was sold, and Slade House Farm was purchased to house the fast-growing donkey family
In addition to The Donkey Sanctuary, Dr Svendsen also established, and is Founder of The Elisabeth Svendsen Trust for Children and Donkeys, a charity which gives children with special needs the opportunity to have contact with and ride donkeys at our purpose-built Centres. So far there are five Centres in operation: at Sidmouth in Devon, at Sutton Park near Birmingham at Eccup near Leeds, at Debdale Park in Manchester and in Ivybridge near Plymouth.
Dr Svendsen has played a key role in setting up the Companion Animal Welfare Council (CAWC) which has been set up to undertake work studies in 'companion animal' welfare issues and present their Reports to government bodies to assist in an advisory capacity towards future legislation in animal welfare. She was awarded the MBE in 1980 and in 1992 she received an Honorary Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery from the University of Glasgow. In 2001 she was awarded the Lord Erskine Award by the RSPCA, in recognition of her important contribution to the field of animal welfare, particularly in donkey rescue.
