Introducing our Practice Team

After qualifying from Onderstepoort (University of Pretoria, South Africa) I was conscripted into the army. The army seconded me to work as a vet in a very rural area called Thaba'Nchu (in the middle of South Africa). I was well and truly thrown into the deep end! With the help of animal health officers and meat inspectors I had to run and work in a small animal clinic, look after the welfare of 10000 cattle spread over about 20 rural villages, treat horses at the local stables and supervise meat inspection and animal welfare at the nearby export abattoir. It was a challenge I relished and after my army service period ended I stayed on for another five years.

After this the opportunity came (via my best man) to work in Suffolk with the view to stay a while and travel. Well instead we fell in love with East Anglia and had four children :-). I have also accumulated various waifs strays which makes travel (especially for more than a week or two) a little more difficult.

My research into an area to start a practice identified Wangford as an area where unusually large amounts of dog food was sold! Of course there was also a large empty office block available and everyone we spoke to agreed there was a need for a vets here. It was settled; Wangford Veterinary Clinic was born in April 2002. Since then we have grown into a flourishing, caring small animal practice. We have gathered together a team that is caring, compassionate and professional. Every team member cares about the work we undertake to ensure the best outcome for our patients and clients. We constantly ensure we keep our skills up to date. We pride ourselves on listening to our clients, giving personal attention and care to each one, getting involved in local community, supporting various local and national charities, Our largest event is Strutt Your Mutt Dog Day and Walk, an event where we raise money for charity by celebrating the special relationship between people and their dogs.

We were very proud to be voted England's representative to the Petplan Practice of the Year 2015 Award (The other two practices were from Scotland) We certainly have the best clients and patients in the world! Since then, we went on to finalists again (2017) in this nationwide competition, and then, this year, third time lucky, we were named as the WINNERS of the Petplan Practice of the Year 2020.

Please have a browse through our website and feel free to contact us and preferably visit us :-)

Vicki decided she wanted to be a vet at the age of nine, she qualified in 1990 from the Royal Veterinary College in London and has worked in East Anglia ever since then.

She enjoys the variety of general practice, with a particular interest in surgery. Vicki has also completed a course in veterinary acupuncture, meaning that we are now able to offer this safe and effective therapy to our clients' dogs.

Outside of work Vicki has three children and many animals to keep her busy. She also enjoys reading, cooking, Kayaking and holidays in France.

We are pleased to announce Vicki is now working three days a week with us.

We are excited to introduce a returning Veterinary Surgeon to our clients. Emma last worked with us following her graduation in 2008, so some of your older pets may already know her!

Emma brings a sunny and caring outlook to her consulting room. She enjoys all aspects of general practice and holds the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Certificate in Advanced General Practice, with a bias towards Dermatology.

She lives locally with her husband, children and their pets and enjoys seaside walks and chocolate biscuits!

Eva qualified from the University of Veterinary Medicine in Kosice, Slovakia in 2005. She moved to the UK shortly after graduation in 2006 to gain work experience and learn the English language.

She loves working with small animals and enjoys both the challenging and rewarding parts of the job.

Eva lives with her husband and daughter in a village close to the vets. She enjoys spending her free time with her family and dog Nala.

Galina graduated in 2008 from Trakia University in Bulgaria and began working in small animal practice shortly after. In 2015 she completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Diagnostic Procedures and Clinical Pathology.

Galina moved to the UK in 2020 and joined the team at Wangford in July of the same year. She enjoys the diversity that general practice offers and takes every opportunity to help both pets and their owners.

In her free time Galina enjoys travelling, long walks and hiking, cooking and, of course, cuddling her two rescue cat Nana and Rizzy. She also has a strong interest in Positive Psychology and is currently working towards completing a Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

Jenny graduated from Bristol University in 2014, and has worked in Norfolk and Suffolk ever since.

She started her career as a mixed vet (pets and farm animals), but took the leap into small animal only practice four years ago. Since then she has completed a post-graduate certificate in small animal medicine. Jenny is at her happiest working up a complicated medical case, and caring for our hospitalised patients.

Out of work Jenny is kept busy with her two Labradors (Ben and Sybil), rescue cat (Chewbacca) and small flock of chickens. She is excited to be working at Wangford Vet Clinic, and looks forward to meeting lots of our lovely patients over the coming months.

Coming from a farming background the decision to become a veterinary surgeon was taken at an early age.
Following graduation from Bristol university in 1989 I returned to my native Suffolk and have worked in the area ever since, becoming a partner in Wherry Veterinary Group in 1992 and remaining there until 2020.
In my spare time, I enjoy riding my Arabian Horses and walking Fred, my Border collie.

Estelle is a registered veterinary nurse who qualified from Berkshire College in 1992 and has worked in practice since 1988.

She has always lived locally and has twin teenage daughters, Beth and Lauren. Following in Estelle’s footsteps they are both madly into animals. They both take a keen interest in what’s going on in her day to day work, always wanting to know what cases she has dealt with and on numerous occasions helping to rear orphaned pets and many a patient that has gone to Estelle’s home for nursing or convalescing. This exposure to the profession resulted in Lauren's drive to secure herself a student vet nurse position.

Estelle has worked here at Wangford Veterinary Clinic since 2008 gaining her position here as head veterinary nurse in 2016.

She says that her job has always been one of her great loves in life, reassuring the animals when they come in to visit whether for a quick consultation or as an inpatient. She tells us that the satisfaction she gets from nursing a sick pet back to good health is something one simply cannot explain.

To email Estelle or the nursing team: nurses@wangfordvetclinic.com

Emily has been qualified as a small animal nurse since 2001 and then went on to qualify as an equine nurse. She started her career at 15 years old as a part time evening girl at a large small animal and equine hospital down in Essex. She gained a vast amount of experience from there.

Emily has three young children, which takes up a large amount of her spare time, along with her 24-year-old horse whom she has owned for 20 years.

During her nursing career, Emily has spent numerous years training student nurses and she feels strongly about client communication and care. “People need care as well as pets”

Jessica has always worked with animals since leaving school and she continued to follow her passion for animal welfare by joining the veterinary industry.

She has worked in practice for over 8 years after moving to Suffolk in 2010. She completed her nurse training and qualified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse in 2017.

Jessica and her husband Ashley have two amazing dogs, Edward the defiant Dachshund and Bobby the crazy Cocker Spaniel.

In her spare time Jessica loves to explore the beautiful Suffolk countryside with her horse Rupert.

Steph has been in the veterinary industry for over 16 years and has always had a passion for animal care. She grew up around a variety of pets and still has several of her own, including 2 cheeky little dogs called Mable and Walter, 2 crazy cats, budgies and guinea pigs.

She is passionate about inpatient care, specifically the nutritional requirements for the elderly or critical care patients. Steph enjoys her nurse clinics and has managed a wide variety of these, from weight clinics, to senior and puppy and kitten clinics.

In her spare time Steph enjoys coffee with her friends and spending time with her pets and family.

Lauren started working at Wangford Veterinary Clinic in September 2020, as a Student Veterinary Nurse. She attended Dick White Academy on a day release and qualified as a Veterinary Nurse and SQP in May 2023. Lauren has always had a keen interest in Veterinary Nursing and is now following in the footsteps of her mum, Estelle, our Head Nurse.
Lauren enjoys all aspects of Veterinary Nursing, but has a particular interest in anaesthesia and emergency and critical care.

In her spare time, Lauren enjoys horse riding, going to the gym and socialising with family and friends. She owns a super cute and scruffy Lurcher called Thiago, and a lovely cat called Winnie. She is also currently caring for seven little abandoned kittens, until they are ready to go to their new homes. If Lauren were given the chance, she would have a few more fur babies, but that will have to wait until she has her own house!

Sian started working at Wangford Vets in 2019 as an animal care assistant and slowly worked her way up to become the registered veterinary nurse she is today.

Sian lives with her typically crazy Springer Spaniel Mia but keeps her on her toes everyday but encourages her to learn more training that is behavioural.

In Sian’s spare time she enjoys long walks with Mia, spending time with friends and family, and learning new things from arts and crafts to DIY

Sarah is now one of our Student Nurses after starting at Wangford Veterinary Clinic as an Animal Care Assistants. Fresh from studying a degree in Animal Science and Welfare, ensuring the wellbeing of animals in her care is her top priority.

Sarah shares her home with a cat, rabbit, two parrots and a giant african land snail.

In her spare time Sarah sets herself a goal to read 50 books (or more) per year, an avid bookworm.

“ Lily is an animal care assistant and loves he variety of responsibilities within the role, from from running blood tests, keepings everything stocked up, to reassuring patients, it’s all important!

At home, Lily lives with her fiancé and their very energetic one year old son. With any spare time, Lily enjoys baking, gardening and family walks.”

Charlie started working here in August 2023.

She lives at home with her 17 rats! (all named after chocolates)

In her free time Charlie enjoys reading, going out with friends and arts & crafts

Catherine has worked in various animal care roles, from the RSPCA to referral hospitals, her most recent being a receptionist at a vets in Newmarket.

Catherine has a gorgeous dog called Finnley and two loveable cats, Bumble and Dingle

Laura has had 20 years of management training, and recently came out of accounting after 17 years in practice.

Laura has worked with Wangford Veterinary Clinic on a monthly basis for the last 7 year and has now joined the team. She is very passionate about animals.

Laura's email address: laura@wangfordvetclinic.com

Like most of our team Jill has a menagerie at home, comprising of a black Labrador called Cara, Ted Elsa and Finn who are gorgeous fox red Labradors and latest edition, Roo, also Fox Red who is a real sweetheart and last but by no means least there is rescue dog Lola, a beautiful but very naughty Beagle. Jill enjoys taking them to dogs training at the weekends. In addition to the dogs she has 5 cats, all strays or rescues brought home from the practice over the years and a collection of ducks and chickens.

Jill has worked at the practice since 2007 and does all our marketing, fundraising (including Strutt Your Mutt Charity Dog Day, Poppies on 4 Paws and Santa Paws) and PR as well as customer care.

Jill is also our Accredited Pet Loss Support Advisor and one of our Wellbeing Officers

To email Jill : jill@wangfordvetclinic.com

Sarah has worked for the practice since joining the reception team in 2008 and gained her SQP qualification in 2012.

At home she has two dogs, Charlie and Mabel, three cats and a rabbit called Teasel – all are rescued pets.

She lives in Halesworth and has a daughter at University. When Sarah is not working she enjoys reading and gardening.

To email Sarah: sarah@wangfordvetclinic.com

Louise started work here as a receptionist back in 2009. She is now our Accounts Manager and looks after the financial side of things for the practice.

At home she has four cats, one dog, two ducks and 5 chickens.

Louise lives with husband Carl and her teenage son and when she isn't working, her and Carl are busy renovating their 15th century cottage.

To email Louise: louise@wangfordvetclinic.com

Victoria (more commonly known as Vics), joined the practice in August 2021. She is the newest member of the reception team and says she has finally found her perfect job. She says ‘What can be better than a job where you meet wonderful customers and also get to share in their excitement of owning a beloved pet.’ She can be found in reception on Tuesdays and Thursdays and in the office on Wednesdays.

Victoria owns a 10 year old cockapoo called Ollie, and enjoys long marsh walks with him on days off. She also has a keen interest in art and recently taught herself the Ukulele.

Claire joined the team in May and believes she has found her dream job, seeing all the different puppies coming in and out of the veterinary clinic and sneaking a quick cuddle with them.

Claire lives with her son Louis and her golden retriever Sam, who loves going for long walks on the beach and in the woods. They also have two guinea pigs called Jess and Ginger, they are very vocal but very cute.

Having lived in Suffolk all her life, Claire enjoys long walks and bike rides with her son in our stunningly beautiful countryside.

Rachael is married with 3 teenage children, also 3 cats and an extra one that she is currently fostering for the Cats Protection League.

She says that she enjoys working at Wangford vets as every day is different, the customers are friendly and she enjoys all the cute animals that come through the door.

In her spare time Rachael enjoys camping, kayaking and decorating old furniture.

Paula joined the team in July 2022. She enjoys working on reception, as no two days are the same, from cuddling puppies to supporting owners at difficult times.

Outside of work, she is kept busy with horses, Herbert and Mouse and dogs Mac, Winnie and Billy.
Paula loves long dog walks and the occasional 5k run with Billy her energetic spaniel.

Sally lives with her partner Mark and their 2 Wire Haired Vizlas, Ruby and Edie and cat Bryn.

She likes to spend her spare time in the garden with the grandchildren and enjoys weekends away in there campervan.

Wendy joined us at Wangford Vets in April 2023 having spent 15 years in a reception / client care position at a different veterinary practice.

When she is not at work she likes to spend time walking the marshes and riverbanks with her energetic 2 year old Springador ‘Dylan’.

On the 22nd April 2024 we said goodbye to our dear friend Billy

Billy was so much more than just our practice cat; he was a much-loved member of the Wangford Vets family, keeping us company 24/7.
He reached a remarkable 20 and a half years of age and he will live on in our hearts forever.
Rest in peace lovely Billy – you will be so missed. xxxxxxxxxxxx


Billy lives at Wangford Vets and is everyone’s friend, especially if there happens to be tuna sandwiches on the go!

At over 20 1/2 years old (Approximately 115 in human years) he is the most senior member of the Wangford team, and seems to spend a lot of time power napping.

He keeps an eye on everyone and regularly carries out a quality control check on our office chairs ensuring we are all covered in his hair.

Billy is very good company for the out of hours team and is quite simply a very dear and special member of the Wangford Vets team