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Small Animal Vets

Our dedicated small animal vets have a wealth of experience in caring for your pet. With their commitment to continued professional developement,  you can be confident that they are always up-to-date with the latest thinking and treatment options. In the team we have four Advanced Practitioners and another three of our team are currently studying for this additional qualification.

Ian McClive
Ripon
Ian McClive

MA VetMB CertSAS MRCVS
RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Surgery

PartnerVet - Ripon
A bit about me...

Ian graduated from Cambridge University Vet School in 2003 and initially worked in mixed practice in Thirsk. He then chose to specialise in small animal care, moving to the PDSA in the North East of England. Ian became the Senior Veterinary Surgeon at the PDSA's Sunderland hospital and enjoyed three happy years at the helm. Ian joined the small animal team at Bishopton Veterinary Group in 2011 and became a partner in 2014.

Ian has a keen interest in soft tissue and orthopaedic surgery and completed his Royal College Certificate in Small Animal Surgery in 2012. Ian attained Advanced Practitioner status in Small Animal Surgery in 2014.
Did you know?
Outside work he enjoys spending time with his wife, Sarah and their young family of three daughters and one son. He enjoys walking, socialising with friends and all sports, as well as looking after his 2 dogs , 3 cats and 3 hens.
Rachael Baker
Ripon
Rachael Baker

BVMS CertAVP (VetGP) MRCVS
RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Practice 

Vet - Ripon
A bit about me...

Rachael graduated from Glasgow University in 1998. She started her career in a small animal practice in Melton Mowbray, before moving to Sutton Coldfield where she became Clinical Manager for a group of seven small animal practices across the Midlands. In 2010, Rachael gained her RCVS certificate in Small Animal Practice. She moved to North Yorkshire with her family in 2014 to join the Bishopton team. 

Did you know?
Outside work, Rachael is kept busy with house renovations and enjoys spending time with her husband and three young children.
Simon Burgess
Ripon, Easingwold, Thirsk
Simon Burgess

BVetMed PGDipVPS CertAVP
CertWVACPM MRCVS

Vet - Ripon, Easingwold, Thirsk
A bit about me...

Simon graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 1997. He moved to Yorkshire at the beginning of 2021 having run a veterinary hospital in Surrey for 10 years. Simon has a post graduate diploma in Veterinary Professional studies and a certificate in Western Veterinary Acupuncture and Chronic Pain Management. He has varied interests which include laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery, chronic pain clinics and dentistry.

Did you know?
Outside work, he is currently busy renovating a house. When this is finished he plans to return to getting fit with running, swimming and yoga.
Alex Kendall
Ripon, Thirsk
Alex Kendall

BVM&S PgCertVPS CertAVP(GSAS) MRCVS
RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Surgery

Vet - Ripon, Thirsk
A bit about me...

Alex graduated with distinction from Edinburgh University in 2013, before working as a small animal vet across Lancashire and North Yorkshire. She joined the practice in autumn 2015 and is based at our Ripon and Pateley Bridge branches. 

In the past Alex has spent time in Sri Lanka helping treat, vaccinate and neuter street dogs, and managed a team at PDSA charity hospital in Sunderland in 2018.

Alex has a keen interest in soft tissue surgery and recently achieved her Royal College Certificate in General Small Animal Surgery.

Did you know?
Alex lives in Thirsk with Sully the cocker spaniel and Nessie the cat. She enjoys walking, yoga and indoor climbing.
Laura Pearce
Ripon
Laura Pearce

BVetMedSci(Hons) BVM BVS PgC(SAS) MRCVS
RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Surgery

Vet - Ripon
A bit about me...
Laura graduated from University of Nottingham in 2014 and enjoyed Nottingham life so much she decided to stay there for the next 7 years! During this time she gained wide surgical experience and obtained her surgical certificate in 2017. Laura is very passionate about orthopaedics, especially cruciate disease and was awarded her Advanced Practitioner status in July 2021.
Did you know?
Outside of work Laura can be found running or walking with her cocker spaniel, Stanley. Their relocation to the north east means they have plenty of new paths to explore! Prior to her move to Yorkshre Laura climbed to Annapurna base camp in the Himalayas!
Francesca Berry
Ripon
Francesca Berry
Vet - Ripon
A bit about me...
Francesca is originally from North Wales and graduated from the University of Nottingham in 2019.
Did you know?
Outside of work, Francesca loves being out and about and exploring with her rescue dog Bonnie.
Miles Chater
Ripon
Miles Chater
Vet - Ripon
A bit about me...

Miles graduated from Liverpool Vet School in 2014, and during his training he did some EMS at Bishopton so he is very happy to now be a member of the small animal team.

His main interests include Urogenital Medicine, Respiratory Disease and Cardiology for which he obtained a GPCert in 2020.

Did you know?
Outside of work, Miles is a self-confessed geek, with multiple interests ranging from film and TV to board and video gaming as well as cooking and cocktail mixology. He is also an avid Dungeons & Dragons fan, and he is currently running 2 long term (2 years +) campaigns. He is a keen traveller and has his sights set on visiting Japan in the near future.
Gemma Cliffin
Easingwold, Thirsk
Gemma Cliffin
BSc BVSc MRCVS
Vet - Easingwold, Thirsk
A bit about me...

Gemma is originally from Surrey, but has lived in Yorkshire since she graduated from Vet School in 2014. She has worked in a wide variety of roles including first opinion practice, as a locum vet and has also spent time working at a charity clinic in the Cook Islands.

Did you know?
Outside of work Gemma enjoy hiking and paddle boarding with her 2 Golden Retrievers. Gemma is a keen gardener and grows lots of her own fruit and vegetables. She also has a much-loved ginger cat at home called Mango who rules their household!
Molly Fetherstone
Thirsk
Molly Fetherstone
Vet - Thirsk
A bit about me...

Molly graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2019. She initially spent time in mixed practice, but soon found her love was for small animals and joined Bishopton in 2020 as a small animal vet. She is interested in all aspects of general practice but particularly enjoys a day in the operating theatre. 

Did you know?
Molly lives in Helmsley with her growing family on her family farm where she can be found spending her free time immersed in life with her sheep and two border collies, Nellie and Wilf. She looks forward to welcoming you to our new Thirsk practice where she will be based moving forwards.
Rachel Field
Ripon, Northallerton
Rachel Field
BVSc(Dist) MRCVS
Vet - Ripon, Northallerton
A bit about me...
Rachel  qualified from Bristol University in 2017, but being a Northerner at heart , and having spent several weeks here as a student during her training, she returned to Ripon to join the practice. Rachel enjoys all aspects of  small animal vet work, she has a particular passion for surgery and will be starting a certificate in this later this year.
Did you know?
Rachel has a cat called Minnie who was a rescue from the practice a few years ago, after she was found straying with a large lump on her jaw. Thankfully it turned out to be just a nasty infection. With time, treatment and lots of TLC she made a full recovery and now lives a very spoiled life!
Christina Heseltine
Ripon
Christina Heseltine
BSc BVM&S MRCVS
Vet - Ripon
A bit about me...

Christina, originally from Yorkshire, was lured back from her life in the Indian Himalaya to Edinburgh where she graduated from Vet School in 2005. Among other posts including work in first opinion at Edinburgh Vet school, Christina worked for over eight years in an Emergency medicine and surgery centre. It was a busy but stimulating experience! She returned to North Yorkshire a few years ago and settled into Bishopton Vets in 2018.

Did you know?
Christina lives in the beauty of Nidderdale with her Son. They enjoy exotic travel when they are not walking the Dales with their dogs, collecting wild foods or tending her Son's allotment.
Alice Horne
Ripon
Alice Horne
Vet - Ripon
A bit about me...
Alice is originally from Yorkshire and has returned home after 5 years in Wales and a short time in Belgium before that. She can turn her hand to all animals after her crazy life as a mixed vet, but for now she is focusing on small animal emergency work and imaging.
Did you know?
In her spare time Alice can be found either working her spaniels or competing at endurance with her mare.
Georgie Lloyd
Ripon
Georgie Lloyd
Vet - Ripon
A bit about me...
Georgie joined our team in August 22. She graduated from the University of Liverpool and started working as a small animal vet in Scarborough in 2020. Georgie’s main veterinary interests are in ultrasonography, surgery and solving problems.
Did you know?
Outside of work Georgie enjoys all North Yorkshire has to offer by walking her little whippet, Lexi. When she’s not in the wilderness she can usually be found playing the piano or drawing animals.
Becky Robinson
Ripon
Becky Robinson

BSc (Hons) BVetMed (Hons) MRCVS
BSAVA PGCertSAECC

 

Vet - Ripon
A bit about me...

Becky studied Agriculture at Harper Adams before embarking on her Veterinary degree at the Royal Veterinary College, London. After graduating in 2013, Becky initially worked in mixed practice before deciding to move into small animal emergency out of hours work based in York and Thirsk. After 5 years of night shifts, Becky decided to join the team here at Bishopton. She has just completed a post graduate certificate in Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care and particularly enjoys caring for the most poorly patients that stay for longer periods in the hospital.

Did you know?
Outside of work Becky is kept busy with her young daughter and menagerie of dogs, rabbits, hens and tortoise.
Richard Shaw
Ripon, Northallerton
Richard Shaw

BVMS GP Cert(EqP) MRCVS

Vet - Ripon, Northallerton
A bit about me...
Richard graduated from University of Glasgow in 1996.  His first job was in a mixed practice in Bedale and he became a partner there in 2003. In 2004 he obtained a General Practitioner Certificate in Equine Practice. Richard stayed for 23 years in his first practice before joining Bishopton in March 2019.  He enjoys all aspects of veterinary work with a particular interest in small animal surgery.  Richard is currently heading up the Northallerton surgery. 
Did you know?
Richard is married to vet Sophie (who also works at Bishopton) and they have two boys and two cats. Richard has seven Great Britain caps for small bore rifle shooting, has twice been the British Short Range Champion and is currently the Yorkshire County Rifle Captain! He also enjoys golfing, clay pigeon shooting and spending as much time as possible in the Cairngorms. Future aspirations include getting involved with motorsport, but currently doesn't have the time, money or talent to pursue this further!
Sian Statham
Thirsk
Sian Statham
Vet - Thirsk
A bit about me...

Sian is originally from Hampshire but after qualifying from Cambridge in 1996 moved North to start work in mixed practice in Boroughbridge, staying for seven years. After having children, she spent 18 years working part time in an independent small animal practice near Yarm, with occasional spells in the breeding and research work at RAFT.

Sian has helped the small animal team get the Thirsk practice open but is now looking forward to getting back to some clinical work! 

Did you know?
Sian loves travel and wildlife, having spent summers as a student in an orangutan rehabilitation centre in Borneo and with the wildlife veterinary service in Zimbabwe relocating rhino, but these days when not at work Sian can mostly be found looking after her menagerie of teenagers, cute rescue cat, crazy cocker spaniel and small flock of hens, or in her garden
Esme Telfer-Shaw
Ripon, Thirsk
Esme Telfer-Shaw
MA VetMB, MRCVS
Vet - Ripon, Thirsk
A bit about me...
Originally from York, Esme graduated from Cambridge in 2013. She started out in mixed practice in south-west Wales before moving back up to North Yorkshire into another mixed practice role. In 2017, she relocated to New Zealand and has spent the past 4 years working in small animal practice in Christchurch. It was here that Esme developed a passion for ultrasound and a fondness for complex medical cases!
Did you know?
Outside of work Esme is most likely to be found in a swimming pool, nothing competitive or fast - she just loves swimming! She is also a keen road cyclist (weather depending) and loves baking.
Tom Beaumont
Ripon, Thirsk
Tom Beaumont
Vet - Ripon, Thirsk
A bit about me...

Tom is originally from the Ripon area and went to Ripon Grammar School before heading to the University of Liverpool where he graduated in 2021.

Since then he has been working in a mixed Practice on the Welsh borders, Mid Wales.

Tom joined Bishopton to carry out a split role, working in both the small animal and Farm Team.  His main interests are small animal surgery and medical cases, large animal surgery and bovine reproduction.

Outside of work, Tom enjoys rugby, football and fishing and he has a working cocker spaniel called Wren.

Did you know?
Julia Thomson
Ripon, Pateley Bridge
Julia Thomson
Vet - Ripon, Pateley Bridge
A bit about me...

Julia joined the Bishopton Team in October 2020.  Originally from Harrogate, she qualified from the Glasgow Vet School. She initially worked in Sheffield before moving to France where her children were all born. Returning to England Julia spent a brief time in Wiltshire before coming back to Harrogate in 2002 where she has worked part time in small animal practice ever since. She is an active member of the BSAVA (British Small Animal Veterinary Association) and is on the NE committee.

 

Did you know?
In her spare time Julia enjoys riding and volunteers regularly with the local RDA helping the primary school age children learn to ride. She is also a member of the Harrogate Triathlon Club and enjoys swimming, biking and running. Julia also enjoys the company of Mahla their Labrador, Perryn, their British shorthair, and their 3 pet hens!
Jess Umpleby
Ripon, Pateley Bridge
Jess Umpleby

BVMS MRCVS

 

Vet - Ripon, Pateley Bridge
A bit about me...

Jess went to the University of Glasgow and graduated with commendation in 2016, she joined Bishopton in 2017.

Did you know?
Outside of work Jess enjoys gardening and and dog walks in the countryside with her Labrador called Poppy.She also has a small flock of free range hens.