Meet our team

Alkis Anagnostopoulos

I graduated from the Aristotle University in Greece and finished my PhD on cattle lameness (specifically digital dermatitis) at the University of Liverpool in 2025. My research focused on the genetic background of lameness, on-farm smart detection systems and youngstock respiratory health. I am keen to apply these tools on a farm practice setting.

• You have to sing karaoke. What song do you pick?

It would make no difference; my singing is horrific.

• Favourite ale and why?

Shepherd Neame, 1698, made the lockdowns tolerable.

• Why did you want to join LLM Farm Vets?

I wanted to move to clinical practice from academia, and many colleagues recommended LLM as one of the best practices to work for.

Having met the LLM team, they were not lying.

• What is your favourite food?

For summertime, fried calamari with Greek salad, and during the winter, steak with fries.

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 Fane

I’m a qualified vet nurse, predominantly in Equine! I’ve worked with racehorses mainly for around 9 years, ranging from stud work to horses in training, and then moved into the veterinary side of things! My boyfriend and I moved up to Cheshire at the beginning of the year from Newmarket – for him to set up his own equine vet practice and me to start a new career myself! I’ve always appreciated cows but never had the chance to work with them/ be involved, so now is the time! Enjoy traveling and spent some time in South Africa with my boyfriend whilst he worked for an equine practice over there!

Why did you want to join LLM: Change of scenery from Equine to farm, looking forward to learning new things, and everything that is involved in farming generally.

Where are you from: Grew up in Berkshire but moved to Suffolk, land of the racehorse!

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 Dillow​

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

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.

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 Bickerton

I’m from Middlewich and have spent 3 months working for Bons Holsteins in The Netherlands, where I was able to work with some of the best cows in Europe. I traveled to Australia in January to visit farms with Holstein Australia. In my spare time, I am a very active member in the Middlewich Young Farmers and in Holstein Young Breeders Club.

LLM Farm Vets?
I wanted to join LLM to expand my skill set and meet a range of farmers with different setups as well as being part of a fun, friendly team.

What is your favourite food? Anything Italian

What is your breakfast of choice? Bacon and Cheese wrap

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

Kate Brocklehurst

Kate graduated from Harper Keele vet school earlier this year and after one final calving season is adjusting to vet life! She is looking forward to getting stuck into fertility and a few surgeries but also enjoys talking calf health. Kate has been working on dairy farms since she was 13 with some lambing trips in Scotland thrown in for good measure so is no stranger to being out on farm.

In her spare time, Kate competes in tug of war, cycles, runs, and swims.

Why did you want to join LLM Farm Vets?

I did my final year elective here and got on really well with the team!

Where are you from?

Dilhorne nr Cheadle, Staffordshire

Favourite ale and why?

No thanks – I’ll have a cider

Give us an interesting fact about yourself – Have travelled the world representing GB and England in tug of war, competing in China earlier this year

Laura Hughes

BVSc MRCVS Veterinary Surgeon

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.”

Lizzie Harding

Having grown up on a pig farm at quite a young age, then going out with my dad foot trimming, it didn’t take me long to realise cattle are my thing, but more so calves!  Then on from there rearing calves on a larger scale from the age of 14 right up until now, where I rear my boyfriend’s dairy & beef calves as well as have our own flock of Texel X sheep. Returning to the Veterinary side, as I used to Vet Tech and TB Test, I’m excited to start learning new skills and the variety of the farming world! Outside of work, I’ll either be sorting all things sheep, feeding calves, or going shooting with my gundog Winnie!

What are you most looking forward to? The variation between the diary and pharmacy, also working with different people and farms.

Where is the best place you have ever travelled? Florida, US

Morning or evening person? Evening defiantly

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. 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 Ellis

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.

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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!

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!

Rachel Blackett

BVSc MRCVS Veterinary Surgeon

Rachel graduated as a vet from Liverpool University in 2023 and joined LLM as the dairy intern that December. She has a keen interest in all things farm but is particularly interested in dairy fertility, calf health, and nutrition.
In her spare time, Rachel likes to get outdoors, whether hiking, camping, or climbing. In Rachel’s opinion, a walk is always improved when dogs and a pub lunch are involved!

Rob Hall

VetMB MA DBR 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

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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.

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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.

Stacy Sandham

After spending 18 years working in all parts of the care field, Stacy decided she needed a change of career and a new challenge. Stacy lives with her partner and son in Whitchurch and loves spending her free time exploring new places and spending time with family and friends.

Why did you want to join LLM Farm Vets? Wanting a new career and hearing great things about LLM.

Where is the best place you have ever travelled? Barbados…absolute paradise!

Do you have a favourite charity you wish people knew more about? RNID National hearing loss.

Any phobias you want to conquer? Spiders!!!

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.

Toni Perry

Toni qualified as a registered veterinary nurse in 2013 (small animal) and has worked in a variety of small animal practices since including general practice, referral, and charity. Her interest in the Farming world was sparked after meeting her partner 5 years ago, who is from a Dairy Farming background, a new love for cows was found, and she take every opportunity to get involved with all things farming alongside him.

After ten years in the small animal veterinary Practice, Toni was ready for a new challenge, so was excited to see an opportunity to work for LLM, hoping to put her previous veterinary nursing experience to learn more about the large animal vet world.

At home, Toni has a young daughter and two pet dogs to keep her busy!

Tea or coffee? Both! Toddler mum life requires all the caffeine!

Favourite sandwich and why? Bacon & egg- because it’s delicious!

Morning or evening person? Definitely evening.

Interesting fact about yourself: I have a black belt in Shotokan Karate. Not that I’ve trained for quite a few years now!

Victoria Hudson

BSc(Hon) BVM&S MRCVS Veterinary Surgeon

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

BVSc, MMedVet, MRCVS, Advanced Practitioner in Cattle Health & Production Veterinary Surgeon

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!