Former Staff

Laura Duxbury B.Sc. R.V.N. Nat.Dip.
Animal Care

Laura joined the practice in August 2012 as a qualified and experienced veterinary nurse. Her veterinary special interests were surgical nursing, exotic species, animal husbandry, grooming, and anything to do with cats.

Recently Laura has indulged in her hobby of furniture repair and restoration and has now decided to focus on this. As such we sadly say fair well to Laura and wish her well with her new enterprise

Laura was born, raised, and still lives in Blackburn, was educated at St Augustine's High School, Whalley; did her National Diploma in Animal Care at Myerscough College, then a Zoology degree at Liverpool John Moore's University studying marine biology, ecology and conservation.

She spent time in South Africa involved in ornithological studies on bearded vultures. In 2004 she began working at the Springfield Veterinary practice, Blackburn. Whilst there she completed her Veterinary Nurse training (R.V.N.) at Myerscough College. Her interests are vintage cars, cooking, reading, travelling, music (especially live music & festivals), film and plays. She has 4 cats and a corn snake called Charlie Brown.

Joan Helm

Joan joined the practice in 1981 as a receptionist and became a  well loved receptionist by generations of pet owners!

She was also a Hill's pet nutritional advisor.

Joan retired in June 2017 and we hope she enjoys a fun filled, happy retirement with her husband and family.

Naomi Starkey

RVN Veterinary Nurse

Naomi has now moved onto the wonderful field of human nursing and is currently undergoing her nurse training. We wish her well with her new career. Naomi came back to us after six years with a Preston veterinary practice, where she spent four years as Head Nurse. During this time she also held a teaching position with Myerscough College teaching principles of animal first aid and laboratory diagnostic techniques to foundation degree students.

Naomi originally joined us in 2004 as a qualified veterinary nurse. Her special interests are nutrition, dog breeding, intensive care nursing and ferrets.

Naomi grew up in Penwortham Preston. She trained in business and counselling before deciding to become a veterinary nurse. She enjoys running, swimming with her two children, competitive racing and training of her five whippets.

Lynette Williams

R.V.N. HND
Animal Management & Welfare.

Lynette joined the practice in 2003 and qualified as a Veterinary Nurse (R.V.N.) in 2007. She has also completed a 3 yr. HND in Management and Welfare of Animals (Nursing). Lynette was interested in pain management and associated complementary therapies.

Following the birth of her two children, Lynette  moved away from nursing and now works as a cook at a local school. She has recently gone back to her nursing roots and works part time as a receptionist at a local practice near Preston.

Lynette lives in Garstang with her husband Steve and their two daughters. Lynette was born and raised just south of Glasgow. Her early career was in retail customer services, management and banking. She emigrated to Lancashire shortly after meeting her future husband. Her interests are cooking and entertaining, skiing, reading and forensic psychology. We wish Lynette well in her future careers.

Tom Norman

R.V.N., Nat.Dip. Animal Care
Senior Veterinary Nurse

Tom joined the practice in 2008 and qualified as a veterinary nurse (R.V.N.) in November 2012. He also has a BTec National Diploma in Animal Care. Tom's main veterinary interests were vaccinations, genetics and parasitology.

Tom was born in Lancashire and lives on a working sheep and beef farm in Grindleton. He has a Jack Russel (Ben). He is an avid reader, enjoys museums and all aspects of history, P.C.s and P.C. games.

In 2014, Tom left the practice for a new life as a Police Officer in Cumbria. He now works in Kendal and still returns to the practice as a locum nurse on a regular basis.

Janet Hammond

Receptionist/ Book Keeper

Janet joined the practice in the year 2000 as a receptionist, administrative assistant and bookkeeper. She was a Hill's pet nutritional advisor, and makes wonderful cakes! Janet retired in 2014 and is moving to the coast to enjoy her retirement. She will be greatly missed but will be visiting us with her much loved cake deliveries!

Kim Hampson

R.V.N.

In Dec 2011 Kim took up a position as a veterinary nurse at ChesterGates Referral Hospital, Chester. Kim joined the practice in 2008. She qualified as a Veterinary Nurse (R.V.N.) in 2006 at Baxter & Marwood, Longton, Preston. Kim is interested in Diabetes mellitus, medical nursing, critical care, especially elderly patients, and looking after clients.

Kim was born in Bolton, grew up in Preston and attending Priory High School in Penwortham, Preston (fitting in 5 years of early morning milk rounds!). Whilst working with a Double Glazing firm she did voluntary work at her local vet practice and eventually gained a placement to train as a veterinary nurse in 2003. She loves surfing, scuba diving and camping.

Jill Macdonald

DipAVN(surg). V.N.

In August 2008 Jill moved to Liverpool University Veterinary College organising further education for vets. Jill joined the practice in 1996 and qualified as a veterinary nurse (R.V.N.) in 1999. She became Head Nurse in 2000 with overall responsibility for nursing standards and all aspects of nurse training. She gained her R.V.N. Assessor qualification in 2002 and her Diploma in Advanced Surgical Nursing in 2006 and is a regular contributor to the veterinary press. She gained a H.N.D. in chemistry at the University of Central Lancashire in 1989. Jill’s areas of expertise in the practice are surgical and medical nursing, anaesthesia, E.C.G.'s and dentistry.

Jill was born in Westminster and brought up in Hertfordshire and Nottingham. Her formative years were spent with horses and dogs at her mother's riding stables. She was regularly involved in teaching children to ride, show jumping, dressage and one day eventing. Her current interests are photography, walking, music, computers, dog training, and her pets, Border Terrier (Otto) and cat (Renti)

Alison Langridge

BA (Hons), R.V.N.

Alison moved on in July '08 and is now lecturing in clinical skills at the Royal Veterinary College Alison joined the practice in 1999, and qualified as a Veterinary Nurse (R.V.N.) in 2003. She graduated in 1996 from the University of Wales with a BA (Hons) in Linguistics.. Her special interests are rabbit medicine, and emergency & critical care.

Alison was brought up in Padiham, went to school at St Wilfrids, Blackburn and now lives in Sabden under the shadow of Pendle Hill. As a teenager she was a keen horse-rider, her interest in pet medicine was sparked as she worked part-time in her auntie's pet shop. Her interests are languages - she has studied German, Swedish, Welsh, French, Latin and most recently Italian, playing piano, stained glass art, tap dancing, squash, and gardening.

Rebecca Purcell

BVSc MRCVS

Becky moved to work in a companion animal practice in Manchester in August 2008. Becky graduated from Liverpool University in 2001 and joined the Veterinary Health Centre in 2006. She has worked in small animal practice in Lytham St Annes and Bolton, and locumed throughout the North West. Her veterinary interests are mainly medical - she has recently completed a modular course in feline medicine. She has also had training in Western Scientific Acupuncture and is interested in developing other methods of managing chronic pain such using physiotherapy, hydrotherapy etc.

Becky was brought up in the South of England, moving North at the age of 8. She was educated at Casterton School, Kirby Lonsdale and feels most at home in the North West. Becky is a keen rider and was vice-captain of the university riding club. Her weekends are spend walking with her dog Mr Jackamo, going to weddings (she's at that age) and doing DIY with husband Dan.

Claire Barton

Claire joined the practice in 2006 as a nursing and reception assistant. She has since trained as a Hill's pet nutritional advisor.

Claire previously studied Criminology at Blackburn Higher Education Centre. She loves camping (in her VW camper van), visiting Scotland, going to the gym, socialising, and her 3 cats Jack, Evie and Tommy, and dog Molly.

Laura Waters

Laura left us in July '10 to go on adventuring in Europe Laura joined the practice in 2001 after completing the Small Animal Care and Pre-Vet Nursing Courses at Myerscough College. Laura's interests are in pet behaviour and training.

Laura was born and brought up in Rishton. Her interests are Motorcycling, Jujitsu (Black Belt!), regular gym and fitness classes, horses and horse riding, swimming and badminton.

Claire Hellawell

R.V.N.

Claire moved to a Mixed Practice in Leeds in May 2010 Claire joined the practice from August 2009 to May 2010 (as a maternity cover locum vet nurse). She now works at a mixed practice in Leeds. She trained at Myerscough College whilst working in a mixed practice in her home town of Halifax and qualified as a Veterinary Nurse (R.V.N.) in 2003.

Claire lives in Halifax. Her overwhelming hobby is caring for and showing her two horses Alfie and Storm. This involves being up at 5am most days to tend to the horses before work, then after work, picking up her springer spaniel Baxter and checking the horses again in the evening. Most weekends she will be at an event (and probably sleeping in the trailer!)