Meet the Team

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  Sam Burnell

  Veterinary Surgeon

  BVSc BSAVA PGCertSAM MRCVS and RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Medicine

  Sam qualified from Liverpool 2004, originally from Burley-in-Wharfedale, she moved to East Yorkshire to work in a small animal and equine practice for 3 years before returning to West Yorkshire to work in a small animal only practice. She joined Ashlands to take on the Skipton branch in September 2014. Her particular interests lie in medicine and small furries. She became an RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Medicine in 2020. She became a Clinical Director in August 2021.

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  Nikki Holt

  Veterinary Surgeon

  BVetMed MRCVS, Clinical Directors and RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Surgery

  Nikki qualified in 2009 from the Royal Veterinary College. After a brief stint in mixed practice in North Wales she returned to her home town of Wakefield for a small animal only job. She relocated and joined the Ashlands team in 2016 to be closer to the Dales and Lake District and persued her interest in Small Animal Surgery. She gained a certificate in this field in 2020 and became an Advanced practitioner in 2024. She is mainly found in her happy place in the operating theatre at our Ilkley surgery! Nikki has been a Clinical Director alongside Sam since 2021. Out of work she has three young daughters and a half derelict farmhouse keeping her busy!

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  Arron Longman

  Senior Vet

  BVMS MRCVS

  Arron has worked at Ashlands since 2006. He qualified from Glasgow University in 1994 and worked in a veterinary hospital in London where he discovered an interest in veterinary dermatology. He has attended the World Veterinary Dermatology Conference in Vienna and is a member of the British Veterinary Dermatology study group. He also has developed an interest in smaller pet animals and has been a member of the British Rabbit Council. Outside work Arron enjoys running and has participated in The London Marathon and The Great North Run. He also enjoys languages, gym training, cooking and attempting to grow odd shaped and usually quite small vegetables!

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  Ana Devesa

  Senior Vet

  GPCert(SAS) PgCert SAS MRCVS

  Ana graduated in Portugal in 2013, where she worked for a few years before moving to the UK in 2016. She worked in a mixed practice in East Yorkshire, before joining Ashlands in October 2018. She especially enjoys surgery and in 2023 she achieved a Certificate in Small Animal Surgery. She has a keen interest on the welfare of brachycephalic breeds and is an approved assessor of the Respiratory Function Grading Scheme run by the Kennel Club and University of Cambridge.

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  Rosie Marshall

  Senior Vet

  BVetMed PGCertSAECC PgC SAM MRCVS

  Rosie qualified in 2006 from The Royal Veterinary College and has worked in her native Yorkshire ever since.

  She is an Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Emergency & Critical Care, obtaining this qualification in 2019, and is currently studying towards a certificate in Small Animal Medicine to compliment this. Her main interests lie in these areas of practice, particularly optimising care for hospitalised pets.

  Outside of work she enjoys playing football and running, having completed several marathons and half marathons over the years, in and amongst trying to tire out her Labrador Fonzie

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  Bianca Olivier

  Veterinary Surgeon

  BVSc MRCVS. Wellness Champion

  Bianca graduated in 2020 and then spent a year working as a state veterinarian and at a SPCA as she has a passion for animal welfare, she also enjoys working with wildlife. Her special interests include small animal medicine and surgery. She comes from a beautiful coastal town in South Africa and in March 2022 moved to the UK. In her personal time she enjoys hiking and being outdoors. Bianca is studying towards a Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care certificate.

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  Cynthia Hodge

  Veterinary Surgeon

  MA VetMB MRCVS

  Cynthia graduated from Cambridge University in 2003 and since then has worked in different parts of England from the Lake District to the Peak District. She joined Ashlands in 2022 and is happy to be back in Yorkshire now where she grew up. She is interested in all aspects of small animal medicine and she works between Ilkley and Skipton

  Outside of work she is usually out with her little terrier walking in the Dales or on the coast.

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  Elli-Ioanna Papazoglou

  Veterinary Surgeon

  MRCVS

  Elli graduated in Greece in 2018. She worked there for a year in a 24-hour animal hospital, before moving to the UK in 2019. She joined Ashlands in December 2019. Her main interest is medicine and she also enjoys dermatology cases. She is currently studying for a Certificate in Small Animal Medicine.

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  Hayley O’Reilly

  Veterinary Surgeon

  BVSc, MRCVS
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  Spike Tatton

  Veterinary Surgeon

  BVSc, MRCVS

  Spike qualified from the University of Bristol in 2025 and has started his journey as a new graduate vet at Ashlands.

  His interests include internal medicine, soft tissue surgery and diagnostic imaging.

  Outside of work Spike enjoys music, cooking, going to the gym and being at home in the Yorkshire Dales!

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  Lizzie Pratt

  Veterinary Surgeon

  MRCVS

  Lizzie qualified from the University of Nottingham in 2024 and joined Ashlands for her first job as a new graduate vet. She has a strong passion for small animal soft tissue surgery and emergency and critical care, but is excited to explore all aspects of veterinary medicine. Outside of work Lizzie enjoys weightlifting, and long walks in the Yorkshire Dales with her silken windhound, Retter

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  Ryan Newman

  Veterinary Surgeon

  MVDr MRCVS

  Ryan graduated from the University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Kosice in Slovakia in 2018. He started at Ashlands in August 2018, and enrolled on the Vet Partners new graduate programme He has a cat called Jim and enjoys running outside of work.

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  Amy Sansby

  Veterinary Surgeon

  BVM BVS MRCVS
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  Stuart Black

  Veterinary Surgeon

  BVMS MRCVS

  Stuart graduated from the University of Glasgow in 2014, He has since worked in small animal practice for 2 years in Newcastle area before moving and working abroad for a further 2 years in Australia and New Zealand whilst travelling around in a camper van! He returned to the UK in 2018 where he joined the Ashlands team. He is interested in all areas in small animal practice. When not working Stuart enjoys hiking and camping particularly in the Yorkshire Dales.

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  Jenny Chapman

  Clinical Nurse Manager

  RVN CertVNECC NCert (TMedNsg)

  Jenny began her career with Ashlands Vets in 2004 as a Student Veterinary Nurse, joining the RCVS register in 2007. In 2018 Jenny completed her studies for the BSAVA Veterinary Nursing Merit Award in Emergency Critical Care and Anaesthesia. After becoming Head Nurse at the Ilkley surgery in 2019, Jenny completed her Certificate of Veterinary Nursing in Emergency and Critical Care (with distinction) in 2021. Jenny progressed to Clinical Nurse Manager in 2022, overseeing our Nurse team across all our surgeries. In 2023 Jenny completed her Nursing Certificate in Transfusion Medicine. Jenny also has two cats and a dog.

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  Galina Harrison

  Lead Nurse

  RVN

  Galina qualified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse in 2008, and has worked at a veterinary dental referral practice. She joined Ashlands in 2018. She has just started a Diploma in behaviour, and has an interest in surgical nursing. She has a dog and a cat, and enjoys crafting and gardening.

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  Steph Ellis

  Lead Nurse

  RVN
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  Sam Holmes

  Lead Nurse

  RVN, NCert(AnaesthNsg)

  Sam came to us in 2013 whilst on her degree placement from the Royal Veterinary College. She then qualified in July 2016 and took on the role of Lead nurse at Skipton, early 2022. Most recently, she completed her Nursing Certificate in Anaesthesia in March 2023. Outside of work, Sam enjoys taking walks with her Cocker Spaniel, relaxing with her rescue cat, and PC gaming.

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  Judith Smith

  RVN

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  Jenny Sutton

  RVN

  RVN, BSc (hons) Equine Sports Science

  Entering the RCVS Registered Veterinary Nurse Register in 2018, and joining Ashlands in 2022, Jenny also holds a level 3 diploma in small animal hydrotherapy (pool and aquatreadmill), amongst other qualifications.

  Prior to becoming a small animal RVN, Jenny worked with large animals, predominantly horses, and complimentary therapy, and has competed in a range of equine related disciplines up to national level ranging from dressage, to eventing over the years, and for many years owned my own horses.

  Jennys main focus is now companion animals, she also cares for two cats and tropical fish at home. In her spare time she enjoys mountaineering, Rock Climbing, and growing her own produce in her garden.

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  Megan Fowler

  RVN

  Megan has been a member of the Ashlands Nursing team since 2017, joining the Nursing register in 2021. Megan has a keen interest in medical nursing.

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  Jenna Wilkinson

  RVN

  Jenna joined the Veterinary industry in 2018 as an animal nursing assistant, working with companion, farm and equine patients. Early 2024 Jenna completed her Veterinary qualification and now focusses her discipline towards companion animals, with a keen interest in medical nursing.

  In her spare time Jenna can often be found at the stables with her horse Harvey or out in her campervan visiting the Lake District with her partner; hiking and Paddleboarding. Jenna has two rescue kittens to keeping her entertained and when time allows walks her parents dogs, Teddy and Nancy.

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  Laura Nelson

  RVN

  Night Nurse

  Laura has always had a keen interest in animals and after completing an animal management course went on to study veterinary nursing at Myerscough college, where she graduated as a Registered Veterinary Nurse in July 2015. She is passionate about the care and wellbeing of animals with a keen interest in medical nursing. At the start of the pandemic, Laura stepped in to look after the inpatients and help with emergencies during the night, a role which she has continued. In her free time she likes to go walking with her two spaniels Jazz and Poppy.

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  Mia Thomas

  Animal Care Assistant

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  Eliza Ferris

  Animal Care Assistant

  ACA

  Eliza qualified as a Veterinary Care Assistant at the College of Animal Welfare in August 2024. Outside of work Eliza enjoys walks with her dog Rufus and socialising with friends. Eliza has two rescue cats Paddy & Finn

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  Tom Hawcroft

  ACA

  Hi I’m Tom I’ve been around animals for most of my life and I’ve worked with them for a good portion of my work life too. I’m excited to be working with Ashlands and helping the wonderful animals that come through the doors.

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  Becky Wright

  RVN

  Becky qualified with a degree in veterinary nursing from Myerscough college in 2007. During her career she has worked in Leicester, Guildford and Portsmouth before settling at Ashlands in 2021. Beckys favourite part of Veterinary Nursing is client care and education. In 2015 Becky was named as Pet Health Councillor of the year for her work with clients, students and the community. In practice Becky is most at home in the nurse consult room offering advice to our clients about various aspects of health care. Becky is actively involved in the training of our student Veterinary nurses. Outside of work Becky enjoys watching films of all kinds and also crafting, especially knitting and crossstitch

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  Zoe Andrews

  RVN

  Zoe passed the veterinary nurse training with Myerscough College in 2021. Zoe has also passed an advanced programme in the veterinary nursing of small mammals. She has two Shetland ponies that she carriage drives and four indoor little guinea pigs that she adopted from a local rescue.

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  Charlotte Jackson

  RVN

  Charlotte began working in the veterinary industry as a patient care assistant in 2019, later qualifying as a Registered Veterinery Nurse in summer 2024. She enjoys the variety that comes with working as a nurse, and has a particular interest in diagnostic imaging.

  Outside of work Charlotte lives on a small holding with her border collie Bishop, and occasionally helps out caring for sheep and chickens.

  She enjoys scenic dog walks around Yorkshire and PC gaming.
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  Sarah Kitching

  Registered Veterinary Nurse, Night Nurse

  Sarah started working in an East Yorkshire veterinary practice in 2003 as a receptionist and animal handler, soon attending college and gaining her RVN title in 2008. After qualifying she took locum positions for 18months around the country to gain experience before she settled in West Yorkshire. She has enjoyed working in all areas of nursing, but is passionate about emergency and critical care, gaining her Vets Now cert ECC in 2015. Sarah has since worked as an ECC OOH nurse for the past 9 years.

  Outside of work Sarah enjoys walks in the countryside with her whippets and loves turning her hand to DIY.
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  Georgia Forder

  RVN

  Georgia has been working in the Veterinary industry since 2017 and qualified as a Veterinary nurse in 2021 from Myerscough college. Georgia has a special interest in Surgical nursing and enjoys being in theatre. In Georgias spare time she plays Netball, travelling, baking (and eating) goodies and cuddles with her cat, Dobby. Georgia has also completed research in Madagascar on lemur behaviour.

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  Leah Loughran

  Animal Care Assistant

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  Megan Whitehead-Edwards

  RVN

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  Niketa Thorpe

  RVN

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  Charlotte Stamp

  Animal Nursing Assistant

  VCA : SQP : Stock Champion

  Charlotte was first interested in veterinary nursing at the age of 14. At 16yrs old she got her first job as a trainee nurse where she stayed for 5 1/2yrs before joining Ashlands working for previous owners Pam Braithwaite & Geoff & Geraldine Hale. She has worked for Andy & Anne since they took over the practice in 2000, apart from a brief absence when she went to work for a pet insurance company as a veterinary advisor. She now works at Ashlands, dividing her time between her nursing and reception duties. Charlotte has a keen interest in laser therapy and using her SQP qualification to manage stock control.

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  Ellie Judd

  RVN

  Ellie joined Ashlands in November 2021, qualifying as a Registered Veterinary Nurse in 2025. She has a beagle called Dotty and enjoys long walks in the countryside.

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  Ben Ogden

  Practice Manager

  ADCBM, RVN

  Ben has been working in the Veterinary industry since 2004, qualifying as a registered Veterinary Nurse in 2008. He took over the role of Practice Manager in January 2022. In his spare time Ben is a scout leader for a local scouting troop.

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  Amy Thornbarrow

  Deputy Practice Manager

  RVN

  Amy began her career at Ashlands in 2006, to pursue her ambition of becoming a Veterinary Nurse. She started training at Myerscough College, as well as being employed full time with the practice, and in November 2009 she successfully qualified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse. Since qualifying as a Veterinary Nurse she was given the role of Deputy Head Nurse at Glusburn which entails ensuring the well being of a professional nursing team. She has now taken on the role of Deputy Practice Manager. She has a keen interest in physiotherapy and medical nursing, which she hopes to gain knowledge and experience of in the years to come. Amy has enrolled on a hydrotherapy course.

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  Alison Fortey

  Reception

  Alison joined us in June 2017, having spent the previous 14 years working as a teaching assistant in a primary school. She has a grown up daughter and a cat called Tigger.

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  Cathy Lamb

  Support Team

  Insurance administration

  Cathy has been at Ashlands since 2008. She qualified as a Veterinary Nurse in 2010. Cathy looks after our Laboratory, having worked in a Lab previously, and deals with all insurance claims. She rescued a black Labrador puppy with a severe congenital abnormality which was corrected by surgery here. He has grown into a bouncing healthy dog and Cathy loves long walks on the moor with him.

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  Francesca Wanley

  Reception

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  Jane Strachan

  Support Team

  Finance

  Jane has worked at Ashlands Vet Centre since 1997. Initially she worked as a nurse then branched out into the accounts department. She left us in May 2016, but decided that she’d like to return and came back in June 2017 to help with the financial side.

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  Janet Gibbs

  Reception

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  Judith Phillips

  Support Team

  Client Services Manager

  Judith started at Ashlands in 2005 having previously worked at a doctor’s surgery. She has two pets, a rescue cat from Cats Protection who is now 14 years old and is getting very grumpy in his old age and 7 year old Parson Russell terrier who is the cause of her cat’s bad moods. She has two grown up sons.

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  Julia Sabin

  Reception

  Previously a client at Ashland’s for a number of years, Julia joined the team  as a receptionist in November 2021. Julia has an Italian Spinone called Rhubarb and also adopted a Golden doodle called Eddie earlier. Julia enjoys walking in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales.  Julia has also hand reared a goose and looked after an injured owl releasing it successfully back into the wild a week later

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  Katie Harrison

  Reception

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  Mandie Anderson

  Maintenance and Logistics

  Mandie joined the team in July 2014 when Ashlands merged with Cats Only. She has 2 border collies, 5 RSPCA rescue cats, a very talkative African grey parrot and 18 hens. Mandie, as well as completing a Diploma in animal management, has worked at Hesketh farm park, been a puppy walker for Guide Dogs and worked with the local RSPCA. She looks after the maintenance at the three surgeries and steps in to cover as an animal care assistant and receptionist when needed.

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  Rachel Mawson

  Reception

  Rachel joined us in 2016, she has two children, two dogs and loves horse riding with her family.

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  Victoria Sievewright

  Reception

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  Sylvia Graham

  Receptionist

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  Alison Collings

  Reception

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  Charlotte Mooney

  Receptionist

  Charlotte has two terriers wren and fudge who enjoy being out in nature finding waterfalls! And cold water swimming! Charlotte also has 3 ferrets who enjoy lots of time and attention.  Charlotte has a keen interest in visiting new locations as often as possible admiring nature, wildlife and using her photography skills!

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  Samuel Holden

  Veterinary Receptionist