Becky Arden

Becky joined the ET team in March 2010 after working for Genus for 20 years as an embryologist. She works with Emma in the office and also helps the technicians with flushing from time to time. Becky is married to a dairy farmer who runs a pedigree Ayrshire herd and she has two children.

Bill May

BVSc CertCHP DBR MRCVS Veterinary Surgeon/Director

Bill joined the Practice in 2000 from an established farm practice in Macclesfield. He is a respected dairy vet, being an examiner for the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. He has particular expertise in calf rearing, mastitis and cell count management.

Charlotte Perry

Lottie grew up around animals, especially horses and sheep. With a passion for farming and agriculture in general she went to Harper Adams University to study Agriculture and graduated in 2019.

Since leaving Harper Lottie worked for a Veterinary Pharmaceutical company and now she is so excited to be back outside on farms working with the vets and of course the farmers to best care for their stock!

A side from work she has ridden horses from a young age and now compete with her horse Batman in eventing. Lottie has also completed a half Iron-man which she would like to do again… maybe!

Chloe Deane

I have grown up on our family farm in Eccleshall helping with the day to day running of our sheep flock, especially during lambing season working the evening shifts and also raising our Wagu beef cows from a young age and also helping in summer get the crops in. On the side, I also own and compete my own horse and have also ridden from a young age. Since the age of 16, I have worked in the hospitality industry working my way up in the positions, however, due to covid, the lockdowns have proved it is not an industry I would want to be in forever. I am looking forward to working with all the farmers in the surrounding areas.

Where is the best place you have ever travelled to? Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
Tea or coffee? Tea
What is your favourite food? A good Sunday dinner of course with Yorkshire puddings.

Chloe Dillow​

I have grown up on a poultry farm in Agden which I have seen go from chickens to turkeys. After meeting my boyfriend and helping with milking and general farm jobs, my love for cows has grown to now having my own heifer who is due to calf on my birthday! I am excited to learn new skills and gain more experience in the farming industry here at LLM Farm Vets. Outside of work you’ll find me in a set of overalls or getting ready for a do, I enjoy all things socialising!

What is your favourite food? Pasta

Any phobias you want to conquer? The dark

Tea or coffee? Iced coffee or hot chocolate

Claire Whittle

BVSc MRCVS Veterinary Surgeon

Claire graduated in 2014 from Liverpool and moved to Dorset where she worked in mainly dairy practice. She loves all things cow and is happy just being around them, either on fertility routines or seeing sick cows. Over the last couple of years she has run successful youngstock discussion groups and loves seeing clients getting engaged in this topic. She also enjoys sheep flock health planning and lambing season.

Articles

Elaine Egerton

Elaine was brought up on a family farm less than half a mile from the practice. She worked in the NHS since the age of 20, latterly as a practice manager of a local GP surgery. She has kept an interest in the local agricultural community, especially being an active past member of Whitchurch YFC. Elaine currently lives in Whitchurch with her two sons and loves travelling and socialising.

Ella Gould

I grew up in a small rural town, I loved helping out on my Aunties farm with the sheep, especially during lambing season. I like travelling and hope I can do more of it in the future. I have a huge love for dogs and have 7 at home to keep me busy. One of my dream goals would be to swim with a whale, if I can overcome my scuba diving fear.

Any phobias you want to overcome?

Scuba diving!

Morning or evening person?

A proper night owl.

You have to sing karaoke, what song do you pick?

Classic – MKTO

Emma Broster

Having spent 28 years working in management for Tesco Distribution in Milton Keynes, and then worked in accounts for Bluefin Insurance for 3 years. Emma decided to move back to her roots in Cheshire. She joined the ET department, in March 2016, where she supports in the office, ensuring all paperwork is completed accurately and in a timely fashion. Emma now lives in Nantwich, with her husband Dave and daughter Elena. She enjoys swimming and DIY.

Emma Harding

I’ve always had a love for veterinary from the age of 14 when I helped a mixed practice on a Saturday. I was a veterinary nurse for 17 years in both small and large practice and then went into foot trimming which is where some of you may know me from! And then helping my brother with his tree surgery company, mainly doing the books but also the mowing side both with a gang mower and push. But I’ve missed my passion in life… veterinary.

It’s great working with my daughter Lizzie who is one of the vet tech’s. I admire her love for the work she does and I reckon I have reached my pinnacle in life working for LLM… simply the best.

Have you ever met anyone famous? Den when he was a student! Surely pretty famous?!

Emma Jackson

Emma has a degree in biology and after spending nine years working in the horse racing industry, Emma decided it was time for a career change. Emma lives in Sandbach and in her spare time enjoys travelling, horse riding and walking her dog.

Erica Pierce

I graduated from Liverpool in 2015 and have worked in mixed practice close to home in North Wales since graduation. In 2021 I completed my CertAVP Cattle and enjoyed developing my knowledge on different aspects of cattle health and production. I am particularly interested in youngstock management, nutrition and ET. Having worked in Wales I have developed a keen interest in sheep and love lambing season. Summer last year I married a Chester dairy farmer so outside work I am kept busy with the calves and our flock of pedigree Texel sheep. Off the yard I enjoy playing hockey, baking and catching up with friends.

What is your favourite food?

I love all things dairy, but ice cream is my favourite usually honeycomb.

Where are you from?

I am Welsh born and bred. I grew up in Treuddyn just outside Mold on a beef farm in the sunny hills of North Wales.

Tea or coffee?

Always tea with milk -there aren’t many situations that won’t be improved with a good mug of tea!

Hannah Batty

BVMedsci BVM BVS MRCVS Veterinary Surgeon

Hannah joined LLM as the Dairy Intern having qualified from Nottingham University in 2013. Born and bred in Yorkshire, she enjoys socialising with friends in the local Young Farmers Clubs. Hannah came straight to LLM from University and has general enthusiasm for all aspects of dairy vetting (and for most others things too!) but in particular in calf health and heifer rearing.

Holly Dodd

Not coming from a farming background, I fell into the agriculture industry through my passion for animals, where I chose to study Animal Management for 5 years, 2 at Rodbaston college for a Diploma and 3 at Harper Adams University getting a Foundation Degree. I then chose to explore the animal industry by working in Wildlife Centres, completing a Zoo Internship, and volunteering for a dog rescue in Malaga in 2019. However I ended up going back to the Agriculture industry where I worked for 10 months on a poultry farm rearing Pullets to supply eggs for Waitrose, then in 2020 moved on to Calf rearing on a farm in Middlewich home to 600 Holstein Friesians.

Where are you from?

Originally, I am from Hednesford a small village next to Cannock Chase, however, I moved to Cheshire in October 2020 and now live in Nantwich.

Where is the best place you have ever travelled to?

Canada, I have family over in Vancouver, which was a great adventure, from exploring the city to staying in a treetop lodge enjoying nature.

What was your first-ever job?

Volunteer Farm Assistant at Shugborough Park Farm in Staffordshire, I was there for 2 years whilst completing a diploma in Animal Management at Rodbaston South Staffordshire College, I assisted in general farm work, lambing, young stock rearing, and looking after a Herd of Long Horn Cattle. 

Jack Dinneen

Jack is originally from Ireland and moved to England to be a jockey. After four and half years of being a jockey and coming from a farming background, he was eager to get back into this line of work.

What is your most used emoji? Laughing face

Where are you from? West Cork

What is your favourite food? Chinese

Jenny Bellini

I’ve been mad about all things dairy since milking for a local farmer when I was at school and graduated from Bristol vet school in 2014. I stayed down in the South West for six years working for a dairy practice in Dorset’s Blackmore Vale – named vale of the little dairies by Thomas Hardy. I’m excited to be starting at LLM, closer to family and looking forward to the challenge of getting to know some new farming systems. I am particularly interested in nutrition (the root of everything!) and young stock management, and I have just started studying for my DBR with Rob Hall. Out of work I enjoy hill walking, beating with my spaniel and I used to captain a skittles team in Dorset – not sure they do that up here?!

Jenny McGarrigle

Jenny grew up in Cheshire and worked in the insurance industry and in the NHS for five years before joining in the front office team. In her spare time she enjoys music, cooking and walking.

Kate Irving

Kate graduated from Liverpool University in 2020. She has a large interest in farm animal work, in particular mastitis and udder health. In her spare time, Kate enjoys keeping active by walking, horse riding, and boxing. Although her favourite things are going out to eat and baking.

Katie Arrowsmith

She graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in July 2019, and she comes from a dairy farm in South Lincolnshire. Katie has always been interested in farm work, in particular dairy, since before finishing her veterinary degree. So, coming from Lincolnshire, she’s headed west to increase her knowledge and skills in all things farm animal practice. Katie looks forward to getting out onto the farm and meeting you all! In her spare time, she enjoys walking and a good day out at the races with friends. Though, don’t count on me for any betting tips!

Kayleigh Critchlow

Kayleigh is Staffordshire born and bred. She’s a sheep farmer’s granddaughter and her love for animals has expanded from a young age. Kayleigh started out as a beauty therapist but found that wasn’t for her as she always knew she was interested in being around animals. Then moved on to working on a dairy farm and worked in a vet practice. This helped her massively with her confidence and experience around cattle.

What is your favourite food? Steak

You have to sing karaoke, what song do you pick? Mamma Mia

Favourite ale and why? Fruit cider as its refreshing on a summer’s day

Laura Chesters

Laura is local beef and sheep farmer’s daughter and graduated from Liverpool University in July this year. Some of you may recognise Laura, as she was a Vet Tech at the practice for a few months over the summer in 2018 and she did lots of placement here as a student over the years.

She has a particular interest in fertility work in both cattle and sheep and hopes to explore this more during the internship. Outside of work she enjoys walking her two spaniels Lily and Beti and playing netball when she gets the chance!

Where are you from? I grew up very local to the Whitchurch practice in No Mans Heath on the family farm but I now live in sunny North Wales just outside of Ruthin with my other half on his dairy farm.

Have you ever met anyone famous? Bradley Walsh and Shaun Wallace (one of the chasers) when I appeared on “The Chase” a few years ago!

Tea or coffee? Tea – milk, one sugar, please!

Laura Hughes

In June 2019 we welcomed Laura to our Whitchurch clinical team. Some of you will have met her out on farm already, but here’s her background!

“I graduated from Liverpool in 2006 and worked for four years in mixed practice in Snowdonia followed by six years as a farm vet for Cain Vets on the Powys/Shropshire border. In 2016 I married a dairy farmer from near Wrexham and took a break from clinical practice by joining APHA as a field vet. In Spring 2019 I accepted a part-time role at the Veterinary Investigation Centre at Shrewsbury where I will be working two days per week, and I decided to go back into clinical practice for the other three days. My clinical interests include surgery and obstetrics and working for APHA has given me an in depth knowledge of TB management.

“Outside work my interests include horse riding, running and swimming as well as being involved with the day to day running of the farm at home.”

Lucy Chase

Having grown up on a smallholding in North Shropshire, I have always loved animals. I now live in Whitchurch and have two grown-up children, Ryan and Lara and am married to Jonathan. I worked for the NHS for 22 years before joining LLM Farm Vets in November

In my spare time I enjoy taking my two german shepherds for long country walks.

What is your favourite food? Chicken Tikka Masala

Where is the best place you have ever travelled? Cornwall

Have you ever met anyone famous? No, unfortunately!

Lucy Evans

Lucy grew up on a dairy farm in North Shropshire and is interested in all aspects of farming. Having studied at Harper Adams, Lucy has worked within agriculture for most of her marketing career and joined LLM in October 2017 to help coordinate communications to clients. She’s an active member of her local YFC and loves a good game of netball and tennis.

Marius Mihasan

Tea or coffee? Coffee Coffee Coffee

Where are you from? Romania

Where is the best place you have ever travelled? Italy

What was your first-ever job? Vet

Martin “Spike” Newman

Spike is our ET technician. Joining us from Cogent in 2005, he brought 30 years experience of bovine ET work with a reputation for attention to detail and excellent results. He is fully qualified to scan cattle for pregnancy too.

Michelle Owen

Michelle joined the practice in 2000. She has special responsibility for the support of our expanding computer system and mobile communications network. Her work includes calming colleagues down if there is a problem with their computer!

Mike Christie

BVMS DBR MRCVS Veterinary Surgeon/Director

Mike joined the Practice in 2004. Previously, he was the in-house vet at Cogent, where he gained expertise in bull fertility and embryo transfer work. He heads up our ET team and is one of our Clarifide vets.

Articles

Natalie Parker

Nat joined the LLM team in May 2017, her role is not only to work as a vet tech but to develop and expand the vet tech services. Nat has many years of practical experience on a variety of Dairy and mixed farms in the UK and Canada Some may recognise Nat from her time teaching at Reaseheath college and she is certainly enjoying catching up with past students. Nat has a keen interest in cattle lameness and prevention.

Nicola Allison-Smith

Shropshire-born and Shropshire-bred, I have always been involved in a local young farmers club taking part in socials and competitions. When not drinking in a pub, I’m often found riding my horse, competing or just galloping across fields!

Favourite food?

Spag bol or steak burger

Tea or Coffee?

Tea two sugars!

Breakfast choice?

Full English with fried bread!

Nicola Marshall

Nicola, but we call her “Nicky”, heads up our HR at LLM from our Whitchurch practice. Coming from previous HR roles, Nicky joined us in 2021 in the midst of the Covid pandemic but never fails to bring some sunshine to the practice! She also looks after our students who are seeing practice as well as getting stuck in to a range of practice activities – “lunch anyone?”

Outside of the practice, you’ll find Nicky camping, running  and socialising with friends and family, including her two daughters.  

Nigel Ashley

I live in Wrenbury, Married to Rachel and have 1 daughter Esme. I love any forms of sport but my passion is Rugby. I started playing at the age of 7 at Whitchurch Rugby club and have been involved at all levels as a player and coach. I enjoy Real Ale with the “Bhurtpore Inn” being my second home! I also enjoy Music, Walking our 2 dogs “Buster” and “Maize” and a good Curry!

Favourite ale and why?

Elderflower Ale from the Purple moose Brewery, sat outside the Ty Coch Inn Morfa Nefyn.

Have you ever met anyone famous?

My Dad played drums with the Beatles!

What is your breakfast of choice?

Full English Surprise Surprise!

Rob Hall

VetMB MRCVS Veterinary Surgeon

Rob joined the practice at the beginning of 2017 fresh after graduating from Cambridge vet school. A proud Yorkshire man with a faded accent, he is new to the area and is yet to be persuaded out of retirement to play rugby again. Coming from a dairy and sheep farm, Rob has a broad range of interests within the farming sector. He is especially interested in lameness, calf rearing and housing design–areas he has spent time studying in the US

Articles

Sarah Bourne

Sarah grew up on her family-run dairy farm in Staffordshire. Sarah and her brother have owned their own flock of sheep (she really enjoyed lambing!) and looking forward to growing a suckler herd. Farming has always been her passion. She love’s the outdoors, especially when walking her dogs. She has been heavily involved in Cheadle Young Farmers (Chairlady & Secretary) and Staffordshire Young Farmers (Development Chairlady). Prior to working at LLM, she had been working in a school as a teaching assistant but decided she needed a new challenge, so here she is!

What is your favourite food? This has got to be a Sunday Roast for Sarah – Yorkshire puddings are her favourite, finished with a golden syrup cake and custard.

Give us an interesting fact about yourself – Sarah has completed the Potter Alf twice.

Favourite ale and why? Unfortunately not an Ale drinker, but defiantly loves a nice cold cider after a busy day in the summer down the pub with her friends and family.

Do you have a favourite charity you wish people knew more about? Crohn’s and Colitis Uk

Sarah Hampson

BVetMed MRCVS Veterinary Surgeon

Sarah graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in London in 2014. She joined the team as the Dairy Intern shortly afterwards. She is a Black Country girl and is very pleased to be working close to home. Enthusiastic about all aspects of dairy vetting, she has travelled to North America to learn more about large herd management and calf health.

Articles

Shannon Tidyman

Shannon has grown up in and around Staffordshire and joined LLM in May 2016 after coming from an equine background, producing and showing horses. Shannon is a propa’ Stokie and loves her oatcakes with brown sauce ‘duck’. She spends all of her spare time riding, at the gym or eating out!

Simon “Stan” Matthews

Stan joined the ET team in December 2009 after working for Genus as an ET Technician for the previous 17 years. He lives near Taunton, on the Devon and Somerset border. His small farm runs 80 ewes and a small suckler herd. Stan’s hobbies include watching Plymouth Argyle FC and the whole family are keen skiers.

Simon King

BVM&S DBR MRCVS Veterinary Surgeon/Director

Simon first worked in farm practice in North Wales before going to New Zealand for two years. He joined the Practice in 2002, bringing with him a wealth of experience in low input, grazing based dairy systems.

Steve Walsh

I was born in Widnes, and I’m an avid Widnes Vikings fan (Rugby League, NOT UNION!!).  I am married and live in Nantwich with my wife and two dogs.  I have two grown up sons and two lovely grandsons.  I have recently retired and due to Covid-19 my wife is currently working from home so I needed an excuse to get out of the house, when this opportunity came up I jumped at it!!!!

Where is the best place you have ever travelled?

New York, I love it, especially at Christmas time.

Have you ever met anyone famous?

David Beckham &Victoria Beckham (when they were courting) at the MEN in a box watching Pavarotti

Pete Waterman – at the Willows nightclub in Manchester

What is your favourite ale and why?

I’m not a traditional ale drinker and prefer a nice cold pint of Peroni, a taste I developed whilst working in Italy.

Victoria Hudson

Vicky is a Yorkshire farmers daughter who graduated from Edinburgh University in 2014 and undertook a farm vet internship in Cumbria. After 2 and a half years she decided to move to the sunnier climbs of Australia where she was a clinical registrar at the University of Sydney- teaching vet students and providing clinical services to farmers in New South Wales. She moved back to the UK in July 2020 to work for LLM Whitchurch and to teach at Harper Keele Vet School. Her special interests are dairy medicine, mobility and goat health. Outside of work she enjoys Young Farmers, clay pigeon shooting and flower arranging.

Will Gratwick

Will grew up in Cheshire and graduated from The University of Liverpool in 2009.  He started his career in rural mixed practice in North Wales, where he developed a keen interest in dairy herd health. In order to further this interest whilst having an adventure, Will moved to South Africa to complete a three year residency programme and masters degree in cattle herd health at the University of Pretoria. This was followed by a year at a practice near Cape Town, providing herd health services and on-farm training to large dairy herds.  Despite enjoying the climate and lifestyle of South Africa, in 2017 Will decided it was time to move back to the UK.  After working in North Yorkshire he has returned home to the North West to focus on dairy work. His professional interests include all aspects of dairy herd health, especially mobility and youngstock health. Outside of work he enjoys mountain biking and trail running, as well as continuing to travel when possible.

Where is the best place you have ever travelled?

The Serengeti – there’s nowhere quite like it!

Have you ever met anyone famous?

I served David Beckham a few times at a pub where I worked as a teenager – he always had ham, egg & chips!

What was your favourite band / musician when you were 16?

Muse – and it still is!

Zoe Prior

Zoe grew up locally in Market Drayton and previously worked in a laboratory. She enjoys walking her dogs and plays Badminton in her spare time. She joined the practice early in 2014.