Debby Reynolds


Deborah Reynolds CB served as the Chief Veterinary Officer of the United Kingdom from March 2004 until she retired in November 2007. She is usually referred to as Debby Reynolds, or less often as Deborah Reynolds.

Chief Veterinary Officer

Reynolds was the Chief Veterinary Officer of the United Kingdom and for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from March 2004 to 9 November 2007. As CVO, Reynolds was the British government's main spokesperson on animal health, and was in the British nationwide news repeatedly to explain policy and answer questions about outbreaks or control of serious animal infections, such as foot-and-mouth disease, H5N1 bird flu, bovine TB, rabies and bluetongue virus.
On 9 November 2007, DEFRA announced that Reynolds had opted to take early retirement at the age of 55 years, and that the Deputy CVO Fred Landeg would take over temporarily as acting CVO with immediate effect.
She was invested as a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the New Year Honours 2008.

Personal life

Reynolds is a keen birdwatcher and was a member of the Reading Ornithology Club in the 1980s. Her husband keeps show game fowl, chickens and bantams.
In 2012 she was elected to the Council of the National Trust.

Career