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.

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.

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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Tom Wright

VetMB MRCVS Veterinary Surgeon/Director

Tom previously worked in Staffordshire, Herefordshire and then at Aldford near Chester. He joined the Practice in 2008 with a wealth of farm veterinary experience. Tom is especially interested in helping us monitor outcomes of the various techniques used at the Practice so we can continue to improve the quality of the work we do.

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Dan Stevenson

BVSc MRCVS Veterinary Surgeon/Director

Dan joined us permanently in 2008 and has since joined the Board of Directors. As well as having a particular interest in individual cow medicine and sheep health and production. Dan is pursuing further studies in nutrition and is especially engaged in all aspects of the transition period in dairy cows.

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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.

Sarah Gibbs

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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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

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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.

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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.”

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.

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?!

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!

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!

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.

Hannah Fitzsimmonds

Hannah joins us as a Dairy Intern, having graduated from the University of Bristol in the summer of 2020. Yorkshire born and bred, she spent time working on a farm local to Tarporley throughout university which sparked her passion for all things cows and sheep, particularly lameness and calf health. Outside of work she likes hill walking (usually with her whippet Albert), socialising with friends and keeping up with the rugby. She is excited to get stuck in!

Laura Chesters

Laura is local beef and sheep farmers 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!

Tom Wright

VetMB MRCVS Veterinary Surgeon/Director

Tom previously worked in Staffordshire, Herefordshire and then at Aldford near Chester. He joined the Practice in 2008 with a wealth of farm veterinary experience. Tom is especially interested in helping us monitor outcomes of the various techniques used at the Practice so we can continue to improve the quality of the work we do.

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Janina Wawrzynczyk -Zaleska

Janina, who prefers to be known as “Janka”(pronounced “Yanka”) joined us at the start of 2010 to further expand our TB testing team. Tall and red-headed you will certainly know her when you see her!

Emilio Martinez

Some of you may remember Emilio when he was on placement with us as part of his Animal Science degree at Harper Adams in the ET department. He is now one of our Approved Tuberculin Testers as part of the government trial.

William Leese

From a young age I have had passion in farming, growing up on a family farm in Eccleshall made me want to work with livestock more and more.  Having a small flock of sheep at home which is my passion to find the best genetics to make better stock. Young farmers has been a big part of my life with stock judging being my favourite event to do.  My education was at reaseheath college where I studied Agriculture.

Tea or Coffee?
Tea

Morning or evening person?
Morning

What is your breakfast of choice?
A naughty bacon sandwich

Haifa Masefield

I am an Equine Science and Sports Performance graduate from Yorton Heath, Shropshire. I have been around cattle, horses, sheep and dogs since birth and am an out and out country girl. In my spare time if I’m not racing around the  Polo field or a Show Jumping course I can usually be found sitting in the Combermere Arms with a Large glass of wine and a steak burger.

Favourite food:

When I’m not burning the kitchen down with one of my many culinary disasters I really enjoy Italian food.

Breakfast of choice:

Sausage and hash brown bap

Best place I’ve travelled:

Guadalest in Valencia

Amy Scott

I have grown up on a dairy farm in Burwardsley, whilst carrying out my studies at the University of Winchester, then returning home to continue at the University of Chester gaining a BA honors degree. Gymnastics is one of my main sporting interests being part of the Commonwealth team for gymnastics acrobatics and competing nationally and internationally for Great Britain for 10 years. I have gained experience dealing with cattle through relief milking on local farms as well as sharing the workload with my brother and sister on the family farm.

Where’s the best place you’ve travelled? Cannes

What is your favourite food?
Anything with lots of sugar (a tough one but Lindt chocolate probably)

What was your first job? Milking cows!

Lizzie Harding

Having grown up in the country on a Pig farm, the love of animals has always been a main part of me! I lived in Northwood, just outside of Wem then recently moved into the town after selling the farm. I’ve always been around animals from having my own horse to having pigs, then later on working alongside dad who I helped with his foot trimming business and freeze branding. During my time at college, most weekends and every holiday, I was working on a 900+ Dairy unit, understanding cattle and everyday life on a dairy farm. I then moved on from here when I finished college to rear calves full time at a heifer rearing unit, both these jobs helped me massively gain knowledge and understanding of farming.

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.

Jo Brown

Introducing a second Jo to the VetTech team just to confuse the team that little bit more! Having grown up on a beef and sheep farm, Jo has worked on a large calf rearing unit for the past five years after finishing a degree in Agriculture. Her spare time usually involves sheep work – whether she likes it or not (typical farmers daughter!) Jo is looking forward to getting stuck straight in and welcomes all sheep and beef VetTech questions!

Kate Yearsley

I was born in Cheltenham however we’ve moved around the country a lot because of my dad’s job. I’ve lived in York, Evesham, spent six years in Cornwall, Nantwich and
then settled in Shropshire. I am a dairy farmers daughter – we never had our own family farm (the dream!) although lucky enough to have spent childhood on dairy farms in beautiful places of the country. Outside of work I spend a lot of time at the gym, socialising with friends at the pub and walking my dogs.

Favourite meal: Mum’s roast dinners -can’t beat them!

Best achievement: Moving to Australia when I was 20, walking into a pub in my first week and getting myself a job milking cows in North Victoria where I spent the next 8 months bagging my second year visa!

Morning or evening person? Morning, however, I have to have my morning brew – can’t beat a Yorkshire Tea.

Niamh Williams

I live on the outskirts of Wrexham on the families suckler farm which inspired my passion for the ag industry. This led me to study at coleg cambria Llysfasi before starting my studies at Harper Adams University studying BSC (Hons) Agriculture with Animal Science. Whilst studying I have also been working for the last 3 years on a local farm running a flock of Welsh Mountains on the Grouse Moor.  I have been fortunate enough to have gained the opportunity to do my placement year as a vet tech at LLM so look forward to getting my hands stuck in.

• Do you have a favourite charity you wish people knew more about?

Tir Dewi- supporting farmers across Wales

• What is your favourite food?

Nothing beats a roast lamb dinner with all the trimmings.

• Morning or evening person?

Mornings

Lily – Ann Pardoe

Although not directly from an agricultural background, I have been around farm animals from a young age due to keeping horses on a small farm near Conwy, North Wales. I have worked on multiple dairy farms, primarily focusing on calf rearing, as well as relief milking on a 900+ dairy farm during my final year at university which have all helped me gain valuable experience on multiple management systems. I have also recently just graduated from Harper Adam’s University with a Bioveterinary Science degree and was lucky enough to land my first post-grad job with LLM farm vets and I’m excited to further expand my knowledge as part of the team! Outside of work I enjoy attending young farmers, competing the horses and socialising with friends!

Favourite food: fajitas
Interesting fact: I used to live in South Africa
Best place travelled: Grand Canyon
Favourite Breakfast: Full English!
Coffee over tea!

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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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.

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.

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.

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.

Katie Weaver

Having grown up in Nottinghamshire Katie worked in finance until moving to the Shropshire/Cheshire border 3½ years ago. Since the move she has established a pedigree flock of sheep with her farming husband and most recently has been working as a milk recorder and auction clerk.

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.

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.

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!

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.

Katy Wilcock

Katy grew up in Shropshire and has been around animals all her life. She spent two years working in a children’s home enduring some very challenging behaviours – great preparation for the vet practice! In her spare time she has horses, dogs and a young son to keep her busy.

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.

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.

Shannon Tidyman

Shannon came to LLM in May 2016 after coming from an equine background, producing and showing both horses and ponies. Her role here is booking in TB Tests and supporting the Front Office Team. She is a propa’ Stokie and loves her oatcakes with brown sauce ‘duck’. She currently spends all of her spare time horseying about and socialising with friends!

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!). Farming has always been her passion. She love’s the outdoors, especially when walking her dogs. She is heavily involved in Cheadle Young Farmers and has been the Secretary there for the past two years. For the past five years she has been working in a school as a teaching assistant but decided she needed a new challenge, so here she is!

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?!

Lucy Palk

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!

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!

Chris Smith

Having worked as a herdsman for many years, I decided to move into the hood trimming side of things to develop my passion for lameness control! I attended the cattle hoof care standards board level 4 course in bovine lameness in September this year after spending a year trimming full time. In my spare time, I enjoy shooting, deer stalking and training my Springer spaniels as well as spending time with my family and friends.

Rhiannon Pullen

Accounts Assistant

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.

Tracy Dulson

I was born in High Wycombe but grew up as a bit of a Nomad as my Dad was in the RAF (42 years) so we were constantly moving around.  I have lived in Whitchurch for 30 years and have two grown up sons who are currently serving in the RAF and Army.  I am an avid hockey player and regularly play for Whitchurch Ladies, I also play golf.  I have worked in Education administration for 20 years and more recently was the Secretary at Market Drayton Golf Club.

Tea or coffee? – Definitely Tea

Do you have a favourite charity you wish people knew more about? – SANDS (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society)

Any phobias you want to conquer? – Heights (I would love to abseil)

Nicola Hassall

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.  

Steve Barber

Currently living in Aston with my wife Ruth, we’re quite close to our favourite pub, The Bhurtpore Inn. I’m a member of three local amateur dramatic societies, and as a result have appeared at Crewe Lyceum Theatre in My Fair Lady, The Wizard of Oz, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Jesus Christ Superstar and as a Pit Man singer in the professional production of Wasteland. I also enjoy golf, badminton, table tennis and spending time with our two young grandchildren.

What was your first job? British Rail Engineering Ltd, I’m a Coppersmith by trade

Favourite karaoke song? Daydream Believer

How do you like your eggs? I like my egg’s on a butty!