Our Team Members







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    Sarah Carney

    Clinical Director

    BVSc MRCVS

    Sarah graduated in 2012 from the University of Liverpool. She worked as a small animal vet for six years before becoming our clinical director in 2018. She is particularly interested in surgery. At home she has two dogs, Holly and Ivy, and enjoys wildlife photography and gardening.

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    Zoe Dykes

    Clinical Director

    BVSc MRCVS
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    Claire Burnley

    Senior Veterinary Surgeon

    MRCVS

    Claire qualified as a veterinary surgeon in 1999 and has worked in small animal and emergency/critical care practice since graduating. After all this time she still very much loves being a vet - something she is exceedingly thankful for.
    She enjoys the challenges that general practice brings both in medicine and surgical cases as every day is different. The bond between a pet and their owner is something very special and she considers herself privileged to be able to play a part in supporting that relationship.

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    Danny De Vries

    Veterinary Surgeon

    MRCVS

    Danny qualified in 2016 from the University of Pretoria and worked in mixed practice in Gauteng for three years before moving to England and joining the time here in 2021. In his spare time he loves to explore the beautiful countryside and enjoys cooking with his wife. Their cat, Connie, made the move over from South Africa with them.

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    Miguel Perez

    Veterinary Surgeon

    MRCVS

    Miguel joined us in 2019, having qualified from the University of Santiago de Compostela and having gained a further postgraduate qualification in small animals at UAB in Barcelona. He is particularly interested in ultrasound and cardiology. He likes to travel with his dogs and cats and visit new places.

  • Ella Atherton

    Ella Atherton

    Veterinary Surgeon

    MRCVS

    Ella joined our team straight after graduating in 2022. She has recently come back from Thailand where she was helping neuter stray animals. She hasn’t taken long to fit in as one of the team!

  • Donna Wren

    Donna Wren

    Practice Manager

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    Louise Craggs

    Head Nurse

    DipVN RVN

    Louise began working with the practice in 1995 and is now our head veterinary nurse, as well as a clinical coach for our student veterinary nurses. She particularly loves small furries and being in theatre. At home she has two chihuahuas called Rupert and Olive, and Agnes the rabbit!

  • Sue Gibson

    Sue Gibson

    Senior Nurse

    RVN

    Sue joined Clifton Lodge in 1993, and has a keen interest in dentistry, surgical nursing and exotic pets. She has two fabulous pugs called Edgar and Frank, two cats Isla and Hamish and a bearded dragon called Eddie.

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    Kayleigh Thomas

    Senior Nurse

    RVN

    Kay joined the practice in 2010 after completing a foundation degree in veterinary nursing. She qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2011 and her particular interests are anaesthesia and orthopaedic surgery. She has a particular soft spot for springer spaniels.

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    Lisa Kelsey

    Senior Nurse

    RVN

    Lisa first came to Clifton Lodge on a work experience placement in 2000 and qualified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse in 2005. She likes all aspects of nursing, assisting with consultations and even helping out on reception. She owns three dogs, two of which she has rescued through the practice.

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    Matthew Flower

    RVN

    RVN

    Matthew joined the team in 2020, and loves the challenge of caring for rarer animals and meeting new patients, as well as the community atmosphere we’ve built in the team. Outside of work he loves getting out and enjoying nature, and is particularly interested in bird watching, going regularly on his weekends off work.

  • Sarah Brown

    Sarah Brown

    Registered Veterinary Nurse

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    Elizabeth Britz

    Veterinary Surgeon

    MRCVS

    Elizabeth qualified from the university of Pretoria, South Africa in 2019. She joined the Clifton Lodge family when she moved to the UK in 2021. She likes a combination of medicine and surgery but has a special interest in dentistry and hopes to complete her certificate in dental and oral surgery. Her favourite patients are anything small and fluffy and she wishes to have one of her own some time soon. In her free time she enjoys travelling and spending time with family and friends.

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    Louise Barrass

    Senior Animal Nursing Assistant

    Louise joined the team in 2018 and has enjoyed every minute of her time with us, caring for patients and playing a role in their recovery before returning them to their families! Outside of work she enjoys spending time along the coast and beach with her family, including Ruby the dog.

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    Joanne Wallace

    Animal Nursing Assistant

    Jo joined the team in 2018, after gaining a degree in psychology and animal behaviour. She has a particular interest in dog training and behaviour, and owns two border collies, Badger and Fancy, who she regularly competes in obedience all around the country.

  • Bree Cockburn

    Bree Cockburn

    Animal Nursing Assistant

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    Catherine Longstaff

    Animal Nursing Assistant

    Catherine has been part of Clifton Lodge since 2016, and her family have been clients for many years more! She studied animal management at East Durham Houghall Campus after leaving school. At the moment she has three dogs – Wilfie the greyhound, Bindi the Jack Russell poodle cross and Sasha the Siberian husky – as well as four cats: Midget, Daisy, Izzy and Cassie!

  • Christo Labuschagne

    Christo Labuschagne

    Clinical Director

    MRCVS
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    Sara Gettings

    Animal Nursing Assistant

    Sara joined the team in 2020, having previously worked at the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals, also on reception. She fosters French bulldogs, and has given a permanent home to two. In her spare time she has rebuilt a camper van and enjoys taking short breaks around the UK.

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    Michelle Oliver

    Animal Nursing Assistant

    Michelle joined the team 2006, and has gained a diploma in marine biology and a BTEC diploma in animal management. She enjoys helping out at reception and interacting with the clients and their pets. She has a Jack Russell terrier called Tia, two guinea pigs and a rabbit.

  • Gaynor Rigby

    Gaynor Rigby

    Office Manager

    Gaynor joined Clifton Lodge in 2019, having started out in the industry in 1983, during which time she has seen many changes and advancements in veterinary medicine. At home she has a fat cat called Delilah who decided to move in with her a few years ago and snoozes on the sofa most of the day! She enjoys reading and photography of our wildlife, especially birds,

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    Tammy Scott

    Receptionist

    Tammy joined the practice in 1999 and particularly enjoys the hustle and bustle of a busy waiting room, and can always be found assisting with Caesarean sections. She has no particular favourites other than boxer dogs – and indeed she has one of her own, who is often seen sleeping in reception!

  • Ceyjal Ramharakh

    Ceyjal Ramharakh

    Veterinary Surgeon

    MRCVS

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  • Melanie Kruger

    Melanie Kruger

    Veterinary Surgeon

    MRCVS

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    Sara Tucker

    Receptionist

    Sara joined the team in 2020, and her favourite part of the job is getting to cuddle all of our puppies and kittens. Obviously! At home she has a crazy cat called Bungle and enjoys spending her spare time at home with her family, watching F1 or a good film.

  • Leanne Frost

    Leanne Frost

    Credit Control

    Leanne joined Clifton Lodge in 2019. She is married with two boys and has a Yorkiepoo called Teddy who is like the baby of the family. She loves working here at Clifton Lodge where it just feels like an extension of her family.

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    Andrea Bryson

    Receptionist

    My favourite thing is spending time with my gorgeous dogs going for nice long walks and seeing my grandchildren happy, socialising with friends and love my holidays abroad.

  • Bronia Charlesworth

    Bronia Charlesworth

    Receptionist

    I currently hold my 3rd Dan black belt in Jujitsu and I am also a grading examiner, technical officer and club coach. I love my pets which consist of 4 Pugs, 2 Hermans Tortoises, a Conure parrot and outdoor cold water fish and tropical fish indoors. I am a nail technician and nail artist and I am currently studying beauty treatments.

  • Kathryn Burton

    Kathryn Burton

    Veterinary Surgeon

    MRCVS
  • Hayley Appleby

    Hayley Appleby

    Veterinary Surgeon

    MRCVS
  • Joanne Dodds

    Joanne Dodds

    Registered Veterinary Nurse

    RVN
  • Maia Forrester

    Maia Forrester

    Registered Veterinary Nurse

    RVN
  • Megan Matthews

    Megan Matthews

    Registered Veterinary Nurse

    RVN
  • Mia Costello

    Mia Costello

    Animal nursing assistant

  • Ellie Walton

    Ellie Walton

    Animal nursing assistant

  • Ella Wilson

    Ella Wilson

    Animal nursing assistant

  • Abbie Shears

    Abbie Shears

    Student Veterinary Nurse

    SVN
  • Niamh Challoner

    Niamh Challoner

    Student Veterinary Nurse

    SVN
  • Alex Palmer

    Alex Palmer

    Receptionist

  • Sharon Rigby

    Sharon Rigby

    Receptionist

  • Lesley Brown

    Lesley Brown

    Receptionist