Like Our Own

Martyn graduated from Bristol in 1988, and gained the Diploma in Bovine Reproduction from Liverpool University in 2001. Martyn is particularly interested in the cost of disease on dairy farms, and monitoring the cost – benefits of veterinary intervention. He enjoys teaching the BCVA foundation course, and is also a DairyCo Mobility Mentor with a keen interest in lameness on dairy farms. Also a musician, you may well see him on a stage near you as Martyn plays in a number of local bands.

Originally from a farming family in Yorkshire, Duncan qualified from The Royal Veterinary College in 1995, followed by a short stint in Herefordshire before joining The Vale. Duncan has a dynamic interest in dairy and beef health, especially fertility. He now travels throughout the South West and beyond as team leader of The Vale Embryo Transfer and Advanced Sheep Breeding Services. He now speaks fluent Devonshire, to his French cows (having his own herd of Charolais cattle at home)!

Originally from Cullompton Dan studied at Liverpool University before joining The Vale in 2006. He enjoys all aspects of herd and flock management with particular interests in nutrition, lameness, and cow comfort as well as organising and running farmer training courses and discussion groups. Dan is a trained DairyCo Mobility Mentor and DairyCo Mastitis Plan deliverer. When not in work or walking his spaniel Dan’s interests include mountain biking, shooting, and surfing.

Fi qualified from Liverpool University in 2011, and then studied to gain her Diploma in Bovine Reproduction in 2018. Fi is passionate about all aspects of farm veterinary work, and is particularly interested in cattle fertility, youngstock and genetics. She also enjoys teaching on our AI and herdsperson courses, as well as running farmer discussion groups. Out of work Fi enjoys running with her Lenny (the dog), red wine, and some very small-scale farming!

Louise completes our international team being from Northern Ireland. She combines a busy family life alongside working part time, having a great depth of experience on the farm side. Lou is also a keen hockey player and can often be found wielding a hockey stick on a Saturday afternoon!

The son of a distinguished veterinary professor, Andrew is an internationally recognised academic despite being immersed in everyday general practice since joining as a new graduate in 1981. He now acts as an international consultant on mastitis, tuberculosis and cattle health in general. A past president of the British Cattle Veterinary Association, he was awarded the BVA Dalrymple-Champneys Cup and Medal in 2015 and has recently been awarded the title of Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons for Meritorious Contribution to Clinical Practice. He has written and lectured extensively and produced his own textbook “Mastitis in Cattle” as well as setting up and running The Vale Veterinary Laboratory.

P.S. if you need a good game of squash, Andy is your man!

Anna-Mae graduated from Glasgow University in 2015 and joined The Vale straight from college. Having grown up on a dairy farm in Northern Ireland she has particular interests in cattle lameness as well as youngstock rearing. Outside of work she is a keen hockey player, and is currently playing for Exe Hockey Club.

Maddi joined The Vale after graduating from Bristol University in 2017. Growing up in Somerset on a small holding she has developed an interest in all aspects of farming in particular small ruminant work and lameness in dairy herds. In her free time she enjoys climbing, walking and skiing.

Mireille joined the Vale after graduating from Liverpool University in 2017. Originally from Gloucestershire she’s always been keen to be a farm vet and is particularly interested in dairy fertility and sheep. She enjoys kayaking, travelling and getting to know the area with her lurcher.

Emily joined The Vale after graduating from Nottingham University in 2019. Originally from Essex, she developed a keen interest in becoming a farm vet whilst working as a relief milker at her local dairy. Emily is interested in all aspects of farm animal medicine, particularly preventative medicine and data analysis. In her free time she enjoys the gym, hiking, scuba diving and going to rugby

Lily graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2022. She has been exceptionally busy in her studies and also graduated from Swansea university in 2017 with a first class honors in Biochemistry!

Lily is from Axminster, so is delighted to be returning to Devon with the Vale. Whilst Lily grew up on a dairy farm, her family diversified 10 years ago and now run a zoo in Axminster. In Lily’s spare time, she enjoys caring for her small flock of swiss valais Blacknose Sheep.

Eliza graduation from Bristol Vet School in 2022. Eliza is originally from Essex, but actually developed her interest in farm vetting while visiting family in North Yorkshire. In her spare time Eliza enjoys cold water swimming and is especially fond of sea swimming. She also plays the Viola and Piano.

Charlie joined our Large Animal Vet team in November 2024.

Charlie graduated from the Royal Veterinary College, but initially completed a Bioveterinary Science degree at the University of Surrey.

Charlie grew up in a small village just outside of Reading, but developed his love for farm animal medicine whilst working on a dairy and sheep farm near his family in County Armagh.

Outside of work Charlie is a keen runner, swimmer, skier and enjoys hiking.

Our friendly farmer from Exmoor, with many years of experience in general practice and also for DEFRA, Bridget manages to combine TB testing duties at The Vale along with running her large mixed farm.

Michelle joined the Vale in July 2021, as a Lay Tb tester. Deciding now was time for a career change.

Previously studying at Bicton College and then working for the IAH Compton, before moving back to Devon in 2009 to raise her family back in her home county of Devon. Michelle is married to Andy an agricultural engineer and has 2 children and outside of work enjoys spending time at Sandy Park watching Exeter Chiefs, live music concerts, shooting and working her 4 dogs.