Thomas Turner - Path lead to animal care
A 19th century vet might seem an unlikely subject for the name of a pedestrian walkway, but this is the case in Croydon this month. The newly titled Thomas Turner Path links George Street and Park Street. Its named to honour the Croydon vet who dedicated his work to maintaining the high standards of his profession in the 1880's.
Geoffrey Myers from The Croydon Society, said "Thomas Turner was the first president of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. His contribution was to lead the committee of veterinarians to raise the professional standards and to reform veterinary education.
He drafted and obtained authority for the Royal Charter of the College in 1844. He lived from 1800 to 1859, and ran his practice with his brother, which was described in the 1851 Croydon Directory as a Horse Infirmary.
He lived in Thornton Heath which was then a village.