SBP Presentation Ceremony

We were delighted to hold a presentation ceremony for new members and recent award winners in North Shields on Tuesday 29th February 2022.

The ceremony was held at the headquarters of Operation Veteran of which SBP President, George Callander serves as Padre and is a Director. We were warmly welcomed by Assistant Business Manager, Amy Kilty, deputising for Managing Director of OV, Jim Owens, who was unable to receive his Fellowship due to illness. We were pleased to present Amy with OV's Corporate Membership certificate.

At the ceremony, which was well attended by members and friends, we also presented the following Awards:

Melvyn Occomore Badge of Merit

Adrian Simon McQueen

Bereavement Services Team Leader (North Tyneside Council)

Silver Badge of Merit

Deborah Hart

Health Care Assistant - Critical Care, Artist & illustrator

President's Award of Merit

Trevor Shingler

Funeral Director

(Manor House Funeral Services Ltd., Sunderland)

ANGELA GARNER FSBP, President's Award of Merit,

Companion Animal Bereavement Dip.

The Society is extremely proud of long-term SBP member Angie Garner and her outstanding work in the field of companion animal bereavement. Angie has for many years worked with bereaved pet owners in many areas and has become one of the leading experts in this extremely important area of bereavement care and grief management. She has lectured and taught extensively and written on the subject and is now a respected published author - details of her two books can be found below.

The Society recognised Angie's expertise with the award of a Fellowship, and in 2020 she was awarded the Society's highest honour with the President's Award of Merit.

During 30 years in human healthcare as a Registered General Nurse, Angela developed a strong interest in end-of-life issues and communicating with the dying and bereaved with empathy and sensitivity. With a life-long passion for animal welfare, it was a natural progression to study and specialise in Companion Animal Bereavement Counselling.

Shortly after gaining her diploma in this area in 2001, she was asked to set up and run an innovative national pet bereavement support service for a small charity, called Environmental Animal Sanctuary & Education (EASE). After learning to teach in the adult sector, she moved into teaching and lecturing on this subject to veterinary and animal welfare professionals. In 2015 Angela was invited to lecture at the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) annual conference, which can be viewed on the ‘Veterinary Professionals’ page of her website: www.petlosspress.com

Over the years Angela has developed her own unique methods of communicating with bereaved pet owners, and she explains why writing, “When It’s Time to Say Goodbye – Preparing for the Transition of Your Beloved Pet” was so important: “I wanted to reach out to more people. Pet loss can be so devastating and no-one should have to travel this road alone. I was inspired to create a book that would be like a friend, supporting readers through each step of their journey through grief.” Angela was subsequently approached by another publisher to create a second book for veterinary professionals. “Companion Animal Bereavement – A One Health Workbook for Veterinary Professionals” was published in October 2021 and is a practical guide to help vet teams support owners through their pets’ end of life situations.

Angela's excellent (and highly recommended) books can be purchased on Amazon:

When It’s Time to Say Goodbye: Preparing for the Transition of Your Beloved Pet: Amazon.co.uk: Garner, Angela, Nicholls, Victoria: 9781644111215: Books

Companion Animal Bereavement: A one health workbook for veterinary professionals: Amazon.co.uk: Angela Garner: 9781789245370: Books