Sam Aston, who is better known as playing Chesney on long-running TV soap Coronation Street, was one of the esteemed guests at the 10th Vets4Pets Annual Congress Gala Awards dinner.
The actor was welcomed with rapturous applause at the Deansgate Hilton Hotel in Manchester which held the event on 10 and 11 November after joint venture partner Leigh-Anne brown worked with Coronation Street writers on an emotional storyline featuring Chesney’s Great Dane Schmeichel.
Sam was also accompanied at the event by Britain’s Got Talent winners Ashleigh and dog Pudsey, who delighted the audience with a sneak-peek of their special Royal Variety performance routine.
After joining Vets4Pets group marketing director Mike Hopkins on stage, Ashleigh spoke about the many highlights she and trickster dog Pudsey have had since winning the competition.
She also detailed how they are looking forward to helping Vets4Pets on their preventative healthcare initiative – which comes shortly after the group launched its new website, promoting its partnership scheme.
The event celebrated the outstanding staff over the last 12 months in 85 Vets4Pets practices, and amongst award winners were Leeds branch who won ‘Practice of the Year’; Rachel Smith of Sunderland taking ‘Partner of the Year’; and Paula Ramsey from Harrogate winning ‘Receptionist of the Year’.
Career and Personal Development (CPD) seminars, lectures and workshops were also on offer for event-goers and the CPD day kicked-off with animal expert Sarah Heath who lectured on cat behaviour, and the programme was closed by Dr Kerry Simpson, speaking about feline infectious diseases and vaccination.
