Our Calling

Steph is head nurse at our Cullompton branch. She graduated as an RVN in 2006, and then completed her Diploma in Advance Veterinary Nursing in 2015. Steph enjoys the surgical and anaesthetic side of veterinary nursing.

She’s used her veterinary nursing career as a passport to see the world, including working with moon bears in China and lions in Cambodia. She came back to Devon to settle near family and cause chaos on the local rugby pitches. She now lives in Cullompton with her cat Forrest, dogs Jess and Pip and husband Karl.

Lucy is a Registered Veterinary Nurse who trained with us in 2016. She has recently taken on the role of Head Nurse.

Outside of work Lucy enjoys walking her 3 dogs: Bonnie, Boss and Saffy and competing her horse Blue.

Chloe qualified as a Veterinary Nurse in December 2019, which has been her dream job ever since she can remember!

Her favourite area of nursing is working with new life, especially from birth to weaning, as she finds it really rewarding seeing patients develop and learn. Chloe also has an interest in anaesthesia and theatre procedures.

Outside of work, Chloe enjoys spending time with her dogs named Fleur and Barley and taking them for long walks in the countryside.

Emma joined the Vale in January 2022 and is based mainly at our Cullompton branch. In her spare time she enjoys staying active, mountain biking, and drawing. Emma’s favourite part of the job is getting to know the patients and gaining the trust of nervous animals. There’s nothing better than being the one to get the first wag of the tail from a nervous dog or a purr from a hissy cat!

Lauren qualified as a Veterinary Nurse in February 2022, after completing her training at White Lodge Vets.

Lauren enjoys weight clinics and has an interest in surgical nursing. Her favourite area is theatre, and she loves to scrub into procedures.

In her spare time, she enjoys long country walks with her Jack Russell, Buddy.

Hannah qualified as a Veterinary Nurse in 2018 from Harper Adams University, where she obtained her Nursing Degree. She has since worked in Kent and Worcestershire, but is now enjoying living and working in Devon.

Hannah loves all aspects of the Veterinary Nurse role, but is particularly fond of inpatient nursing. She loves to see patients improve through nursing care.

In Hannah’s spare time, she enjoys exploring the countryside with her wirehair dachshund, Welly and kayaking when the weather allows!

I have been working for the Vale for over 2 years now and have just finished my first year as a student veterinary nurse which I am really enjoying. I love looking after our inpatients, meeting clients with their pets in nurse consults and especially love a puppy or a kitten cuddle- who doesn’t?!

As very much a ‘dog person’, having finally bought a house with my boyfriend earlier this year we now have a cheeky but adorable 6 month old cocker spaniel. We love exploring the countryside, climbing, and relaxing with a G&T together.

Katlyn joined our nursing team in October 2024.

Prior to joining the Vale, Katlyn worked at Okeford Vets. It was here that she completed her Veterinary Nurse training through Bicton College, qualifying in August 2024.

At work Katlyn particularly likes completing nurse consults as well as undertaking inpatient care. Katlyn’s future goals are to further her education in medical nursing.

In her spare time, Katlyn enjoys walking her Jack Russell Terrier, Gus and undertaking car restoration projects. She also likes to paint and draw.

Looking after animals is a big part of Anna’s life and is something that she thoroughly enjoys.

Anna completed an Animal Science Degree in 2018 and started her animal career at Guide Dogs where she worked for 5 years. Veterinary Nursing is a career that Anna has always hoped to go into and she is very excited to be working at the Vale to undertake her training.

In her spare time Anna enjoys metal detecting, playing netball, reading and walking in the beautiful Devon countryside.

Gemma joined our practice at the end of June 2021 in the position of Animal Care Assistant and has thoroughly enjoyed all the experiences encountered so far. In her spare time, Gemma enjoys walks in the countryside, reading a good book and spending time with friends, family and her two cats, Merlin and Maisy.

Gemma’s favourite part of the job is caring for our patients, giving them lots of cuddles and making them feel very welcome and settled. Gemma is also really helpful with keeping things running smoothly out the back. Gemma is progressing within the vale to start her veterinary nurse training this September which she is really looking forward to.

Abi joined our nursing team in November 2024 to commence her Veterinary Nurse training. Prior to this Abi had worked in a referral hospital as a patient care assistant for three years.

Abi really enjoys patients care, and making sure the animals feel comfortable and relaxed. Outside of work Abi spends a lot of time with her dog, Archie and her horse, Reenie.

Jodie has been a part of the small animal nursing team since July 2022. Currently working in an Animal Nursing Assistant role, Jodie hopes to go on to complete her Veterinary Nursing training.

Jodie thoroughly enjoys caring for the inpatients, taking time to get to know them, and ensuring that they are comfortable and happy. Jodie also has a passion for looking after any hedgehogs or wildlife that have been brought in to the Practice.

In her spare time Jodie likes to keep fit by running and undertakes various crocheting projects.

Brooke joined our Small Animal Cullompton Nursing team at the beginning of September to commence her training as an Animal Nursing Assistant.

Brooke has been fortunate to have grown up with animals and they have always been a huge part of her life, so she is very much looking forward to her training and working at the Practice.

In her spare time, Brooke loves to go out with her horses, and to take the dogs for a walk with her family.

Tash, originally from Hertfordshire, gained her nursing qualification in 2007 from the College of Animal Welfare. She’d previously worked at a busy 1st opinion referral hospital in Essex before becoming a locum RVN in 2019. This
allowed her to see many parts of the UK and visit different clinics allowing variation of her nursing skills. During a brief time locuming for The Vale she soon took on the role of Head Nurse at the Honiton branch in January 2022. She is hoping to follow her dreams and build a better life down here in Devon along with her 3 rescue cats Quasimodo, Fozzy Bear and Rosie.

Holly graduated in 2008 from the Lynnwood school of veterinary nursing and has worked in and around Devon and Somerset ever since. In 2014 she married her husband and they have two boys, Barnaby and Reuben and a Hungarian vizsla Otis together. Holly’s passion is medical nursing and running clinics, specialising specifically in weight clinics.

I have worked in the veterinary industry since I was 15 years old as well as working at a cattle market. I love seeing my family including my two westies Lillys, and Layla, and going for coastal walks with my partner. I really enjoy inpatient care, emergency care and nurse consults. I would like to do a certificate in inpatient care, be a clinical coach and push forward nurse consults and educating the public on what nurses actually do.

Toni trained as a Veterinary Nurse in 2015 here at the Vale. She absolutely loves being a Veterinary Nurse, and feels very fortunate to be able to care for animals.

Toni has a particular interest in caring for feline patients and has completed a certificate in feline nursing.

Toni is a local girl and grew up in the area, in her free time she enjoys spending time with friends and walking in the countryside with her springer spaniel Nellie.

Jess has recently qualified as a veterinary nurse. While she carried out her training in Bristol, she qualified this year with Vale after having to relocate to the area. She has a soft spot for all things small and fluffy especially her own guinea pig. In her spare time she enjoys walks with her partner and spending time with her friends and family where the rest of the families animal menagerie reside.

Emma qualified in 1998 from North Trafford College in Manchester. After working nights for many years at an emergency vets clinic, she moved to the Southwest in 2014. When she has any time Emma enjoys reading, movies and socialising.

Claire graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2015 and worked in Surrey and Gloucestershire before moving back home to Devon in 2020. She enjoys all aspects of veterinary nursing, especially the surgical cases.

Claire has had fun with nursing including working on wildlife in South Africa. She now enjoys country life with her horses and cocker spaniel, Pimms.

I’m a student veterinary nurse at Tiverton about to complete my course so will be an RVN very soon. I enjoy all aspects of nursing especially theatre nursing and helping with the farm animals that come in!

Outside of work i enjoy managing my herd of Exmoor ponies and general farm life.

Sophie has been a student nurse at The Vale since January 2018. She used to work on beef, sheep and dairy farms with a particular interest in young stock and fertility. She spends her free time playing with her dogs, helping on her family small holding or making various gifts with her sewing machine.

Lucy joined the vale in October 2021, after spending the last 2 and half years in a referral practise as an animal care assistant.

Lucy really enjoys caring for patients and ensuring they get plenty of love and cuddles during their visit.

In her spare time she enjoys countryside walks, quilling, crochet and watching movies. She also loves taking the family dog bailey for walks and cuddles with Bert the cat. At work she regularly assists the vets and nurses, as well as running labs and keeping things running efficiently out back. She hopes to go on to do her vet nurse training.

Hi, I’m Jess. I am the ANA (animal nursing assistant) at Honiton. This is my first job at a vets, before this I worked for 3 years in childcare. In my spare time I enjoy helping in a guide group every week and join my local running group each week. I enjoy going to lots of different theatres and watching a huge range of shows and musicals. I am enjoying working with animals and learning more about them and am hoping to become a student veterinary nurse in the near future.

Josie graduated from Duchy college in 2015 with a foundation degree in Veterinary Nursing. She has been working at a local mixed practice ever since. She enjoys all aspects of her nursing role with a special interest in theatre and laboratory work. Recently married, Josie has moved closer to home so she can spend more time on the farm with her husband Chris and their canine companions Nora the Border Collie, Quinn the Cocker Spaniel and her daughter Eley. In her spare time she can be found gardening and crafting.