The leader in his field in equine fertility dies at the age of 80

New Zealander, Professor William Richard 'Twink' Allen, a pioneer in the field of equine fertility, has died after a short illness. He was 80. 

A graduate of veterinary medicine from the University of Sydney, he created and ran the Equine Fertility Unit - originally in Cambridge and later in Newmarket. He was also a professor at the University of Cambridge and held numerous other research positions. Allen was awarded a CBE in 2002.

Allen became a godfather of equine reproduction with so many routine procedures in horse breeding thanks to him. He was particularly known for his work in assisted reproductive technologies, carrying out pioneering methods of embryo recovery and transfer in mares and studies of hormones and ultrasonography.