Central Qualifications Graduation and Awards Ceremony 2026
Gordon Buchanan, wildlife filmmaker and presenter, awards a graduate their diploma.
We had a lovely weekend celebrating the graduation of this year’s cohort of veterinary nurses.
The graduation took place at the majestic Central Hall, Westminster on Saturday, 28 March 2026. Students gathered with family, friends and CQ educators to celebrate their achievements and mark the beginning of their veterinary nursing careers.
This year’s keynote speaker was wildlife filmmaker and presenter Gordon Buchanan MBE, who also presented the students with their diplomas.
In his speech, Gordon discussed his unconventional route into his career, travelling to Sierra Leone at just 17 as a filmmaker’s assistant. Amidst his first travels abroad, he documented many of the rare species living there – some of which had never been filmed before.
Gordon shared some of the interesting situations his filmmaking had taken him into, including a close encounter with a polar bear.
Jacqui Garrett, CQ director, said: “We had a wonderful day celebrating the achievements of our veterinary nurses and veterinary nurse assistants. They have all worked incredibly hard to reach this milestone, and we wish them every success in their future careers.”
The ceremony also saw Laura Lacey announced as CQ’s VN Educator of the Year for 2026. Ms Lacey was praised for her dedication as an educator, as well as the compassion and understanding she shows her students.
Image © Central Qualifications