Small Animal Practice Clinicians
Dr Alison C Blaxter, BA(OU) DipCABC BVM&S PhD MRCVS
Lecturer in Primary Care (Small Animals) Hills Director of First Opinion Teaching
Alison first started working for the University in 1984 and was first appointed Practice Director in 1995 and is now the senior vet in the practice. She has worked in many areas of the veterinary profession – general practice, farm practice, charity clinic work abroad and for the PDSA, clinical research and teaching. Her main interests lie in medicine, and she was awarded a PhD for a study of over 120 diabetic patients visiting Langford! More recently she has become interested in behavioural medicine and gained a Diploma from Southampton University in Companion Animal Behaviour Counselling, and offers behaviour counselling to practice clients and their pets.
At home she is ‘owned’ by two stroppy cats, a band of bantams and a small flock of borrowed sheep, and spends time out of work with them and her family!
Mr Colin S G Blakey, BVetMed MRCVS
Clinical Associate in First Opinion Practice
Colin has been working in general small animal practice for 15 years with a special interest in exotic animal medicine. He qualified from the Royal Veterinary College, London in 1993, having spent the last part of his course studying with the veterinary department at London Zoo. He then spent four years working in a mixed animal practice in Essex, gaining general experience but also building up expertise with the more exotic species when ever the opportunity arose. This was followed by time working for an avian and exotic veterinary centre in Berkshire before moving to Nailsea where he established an exotic clinic alongside his other clinical work.
Colin moved to the Small Animal Practice at Langford in July 2006 with the remit to expand the exotic caseload to expose the students to the more unusual species that are becoming increasingly common. He is married with 2 children, 4 cats, 2 rabbits and a hamster!
Mrs Karen Lawrenson, BVSc MRCVS
Clinical Associate in First Opinion Practice
Karen graduated from Bristol in 1998, she has two small children at home so currently only works on Saturday mornings (and the occasional weekday) Karen currently has four cats all rescued moggies aged between eight and thirteen.
James Allsop BVSc MRCVS GPCert(FelP)
Clinical Associate in First Opinion Practice
James graduated from Liverpool and started his career in Newport South Wales where he worked for several years, eventually becoming a director of the practice in 2007. In 2011 he decided to take a position with the Small Animal Practice at Langford, where he hopes to be able to pass on to the students some of the skills that he has developed.
James has always had an interest in cats and completed the ESVPS Feline Practice Certificate in 2005 where he learnt a lot about the different illnesses that cats get and how best to look after them. He has always had cats as pets and really enjoy their company at home; he constantly finds their behaviour fascinating.
He currently also has a Cocker Spaniel who has shown him a lot about what a dog brings to a family.
Practice Manager
Shelley Monks
Small Animal Practice Manager
Shelley joined the SAP team in September 2004, taking on the role of Practice Manager; she had previously worked in veterinary practice for 15 years as a veterinary nurse. She has a 10 month old daughter, who keeps her on her toes!
Head Veterinary Nurse
Diane Leggo, RVN
Small Animal Practice Nurse
Diane joined the practice in 2006 and has been a qualified nurse for 15 years. She enjoys all elements of nursing, with a particular interest in medical nursing, diet and dentistry. Over the years Diane has worked in both small animal and mixed animal practices. She lives locally with her husband, three year old daughter and two mad ‘wild eyed’ Springer Spaniels.
Nurses
Sam Brown, RVN
Small Animal Practice Nurse
Sam joined the practice in 1999 and has been nursing for over 20yrs now. Her background is mainly charity based, gaining much of her experience and knowledge from PDSA and RSPCA, even spending a few months working with Wildlife at West Hatch in Taunton. Her main interests at work are behaviour and welfare, dentistry, nurse clinics and medical nursing. She enjoys nursing rabbits and helps with the more exotic types of animals in the practice, and generally seeing cases she has nursed back to health. Sam works with our specialist dental vet and is considering furthering her knowledge by enrolling for a certificate in nursing dentistry. Also acts as an assessor for the degree nursing students.
She lives with 2 border terriers, 2 free range chickens, a moggie, a 3yr old son and a husband as well as a new addition, a 4yo Burmese cat who is beginning to show his true colours. Sam enjoys living near the Mendip hills and the countryside.
Sarah Gosden, RVN
Small Animal Practice Nurse
Sarah qualified with a BSc (Hons) Degree in Veterinary Nursing & Practice Management in 2007 from Harper Adams University in Shropshire. She has worked in various small animal and mixed practice in South Wales since qualifying and moved to Bristol when she started with us at the beginning of April 2011.
Sarah has two cats at home called 'Luca' and 'Teasel', who are both rescue cats.
Yolanda Bradley
Student Veterinary Nurse
Yolly joined the practice in March 2011 as an experienced Student Veterinary Nurse, she had previously worked in another local veterinary practice for approximately 5 years.
In her spare time she loves to play squash and looking after her Chihuahua 'Layla', Yorkshire Terrier 'Florence' and Tree Frog 'Laff'.
Fallon Campbell
Student Veterinary Nurse
Fallon's first role in the practice started in 2009, when she used to come and help the nursing staff as part of her college course. She was later employed as a Student Veterinary Nurse and is in the process of completing her first year.
She has a young cat called 'Bailey' who keeps her up at night.
Support Staff
Sarah Elliott
Receptionist/Clinical Assistant
Sarah joined the Small Animal Practice in July 2005 working the second half of the week on reception. She also helps with the rabbit referral clinic. Previously Sarah nursed in veterinary practice. She has a very time consuming hobby which takes up most of her spare time, breeding and showing French and Dwarf Lop rabbits.
Emily Shuker
Receptionist
Originally from Shropshire, Emily and her family moved to the area in 2002. She is married with 4 children and has three grand-daughters. She has five years experience of Veterinary Reception work.
Hobbies (when she has the time!!) are reading, cooking and spending time with her family and pets, a dog called Diggory and a cat called Archie.