WHEELHOUSE VETS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Aila Afshari RVN Veterinary Nurse
- Veterinary Nurse
Aila graduated from The Royal Veterinary College in Potters bar in 2014 where she completed a Foundation degree in Veterinary Nursing, she has worked hard for her qualification and is proud of what she has achieved.
Aila is our theatre nurse at the Chesham branch. She is responsible for organisation of theatre including surgical kits, surgical drapes and ordering of consumables. She also cares for and maintains our multi-parameter machine that we use while we monitor the patients anaesthetics - she has named it Mona!
Aila has written a folder of individual protocols for our machinery and equipment within the practice as she enjoys taking great care in maintaining and caring for these. Aila has recently rescued two cats from Nash cat rescue- they are mother and son and are names Harley-Quinn (Aila is a Marvel fan!) and Serj (named after Serj Tankian singer, songwriter and musician). They have their own dedicated cat room full of their toys in Ailas house and are spoilt rotten!!
Aila can be often be heard singing her favourite music which includes Good Charlotte, System of a Down, Linkin Park, 80's music and 90's music, and one of her favourite possessions is her iPod and mini speaker!
Aila enjoys spending her free time playing computer games - Pokemon and Legend of Zelda are her particular favourites. She also enjoys keeping up to date with TV series such as Bones, Columbo, Mentalist and always makes time to watch a Disney film!
Job Titles:
- MBVNA SQP Veterinary Nurse and Clinical Purchasing Manager
- Veterinary Nurse
Anna grew up locally only leaving when she started veterinary nursing in 2002 at Bristol University.
As a student veterinary nurse a large proportion of her vacation placements were spent at The Wheelhouse. She qualified as a nurse in 2005 and graduating in 2006, she working in a small animal hospital in Wiltshire before returning home to Bucks as a locum in 2008.
Anna returned to the Wheelhouse in November 2010 as a permanent member of nursing staff. Her main areas of interest are critical care nursing, pharmaceuticals and canine fitness/ movement.
Anna initially moved to the Chalfont St Giles surgery when it was opened in 2011, she has since returned to the Chesham surgery to be Deputy Head Nurse, and is now the Clinical Purchasing Manager - sourcing anything from syringes to unusual medication or new clinical equipment and trying to ensure all our special equipment keeps working smoothly.
She became Low Stress Handling Certified (Silver Level) in 2017, and is currently working towards a Canine Fitness Instructor Qualification.
Anna has two border collies Spryte (AKA the Kangaroo), and the new addition V'Ariel. Anna enjoys doing dog sports and canine fitness with them. Spryte is semi-retired from agility but does canine fitness work, long walks and a bit of canicross. Vari is just starting out with agility and possibly obedience. Anna is enjoying having a young dog to train again although there's still a border terrier sized hole after losing Isla (at 14 and a half) in 2021 but two dogs are enough for the moment....
Job Titles:
- Member of the Client Care Team
- Annabelle Lawrance Client Care Representative
- Client Care Representative
Annabelle started at the Wheelhouse In January 2021 and works part time. Before having her children, she worked in central London in the Investment Industry, she then went on to childmind and worked for a while in retail.
Her passion though, has always been animals. Ever since she was a little girl she has wanted to work with animals. "I love their innocence, the way they rely on us for everything, it's unconditional love"
She has a special soft spot for the furry friends that say "Meow".
Job Titles:
- Member of the Client Care Team
- Annette Owen Client Care Representative
- Client Care Representative
Annette joined Wheelhouse as a part-time Receptionist in March 2022. Annette spent 25 years working in London in the TV and Music Industry enjoying a corporate career which she loved and juggled home with her husband and 2 children, 2 horses and 2 dogs.
When she's not at the Wheelhouse, Annette loves spending time with her family and friends, walking her two Viszla dogs Gibbs 13 yrs old and Frankie 5 yrs old who is a rescue, she enjoys keeping fit and has a passion for cooking and baking cakes (and eating them!).
Annette loves that every day is different here at the Wheelhouse and at every opportunity loves the cuddles with the animals, especially the puppies.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Client Care Team
- Callum Humphreys Client Care Representative
- Client Care Representative
Job Titles:
- Member of the Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Team
- Catherine Dakin RVN Head of Rehabilitation
Job Titles:
- Catriona Tyler SVN Student Veterinary Nurse
- Student Veterinary Nurse
- SVN Student Veterinary Nurse
Job Titles:
- Chris Aylott BVMS MRCVS Group Clinical Manager
Debbie's background is in veterinary nursing, but has experienced a wide variety of the industry, from first opinion and referral practices to national charities and learning and development for large veterinary companies. After over 20 years in the veterinary industry, Debbie joined Wheelhouse Vets in 2017, taking the decision to work behind the scenes, supporting the team and championing gold standard practice. She took over as Practice Manager in January 2023.
Outside of work, Debbie spends her time with her husband, two daughters and a collection of black and white animals! She is a keen netballer and plays, captains and chairs a local netball club. She also enjoys walks in the countryside with her dog and family and baking with her daughters.
Job Titles:
- Donna Whiting RVN Veterinary Nurse
- RVN Veterinary Nurse
- Veterinary Nurse
Job Titles:
- Emily Motham SVN Student Veterinary Nurse
- Student Veterinary Nurse
- SVN Student Veterinary Nurse
Job Titles:
- Emma Lamb RVN Veterinary Nurse
- RVN Veterinary Nurse
- Veterinary Nurse
Job Titles:
- Francesca Purvis RVN Veterinary Nurse
- RVN Veterinary Nurse
- Veterinary Nurse
Job Titles:
- Member of the Client Care Team
- Client Care Representative
Job Titles:
- Georgie Steele RVN Deputy Head Nurse ( Chesham & Amersham )
- RVN Deputy Head Nurse ( Chesham & Amersham )
- Veterinary Nurse
Job Titles:
- Helen Butcher Insurance Claims Administrator and Puppy Pre - School
- Insurance Claims Administrator and Puppy Pre - School
Job Titles:
- Helen Cholawo RVN SQP Veterinary Nurse
- Veterinary Nurse
Helen began nursing in 2002 and gained her qualified nurse status in 2005. Helen joined the Wheelhouse team in August 2006 and was promoted to Head Nurse in 2008. She enjoys medical nursing and outside of work she enjoys running and is a keen horse rider, regularly competing at eventing. Helen also owns a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, a Labrador, a pug, 5 cats, 2 Horses and 9 chickens.
Helen lives with her husband and 2 sons.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Client Care Team
- Client Care Representative
- Hollie Laker Client Care Representative
Job Titles:
- Member of the Client Care Team
- Client Care Representative
- Jenna Shipp Client Care Representative
Job Titles:
- Member of the Client Care Team
- Head of Client Care - Chalfont St Giles and Beaconsfield
- Joely Justice Head of Client Care - Chalfont St Giles and Beaconsfield
Joely started working at the Wheelhouse as a Receptionist in 2021. Prior to joining us, she worked in the translation industry and speaks French and Italian. Her love of animals brought her to the Wheelhouse and she is now the Head of Client Care for our Chalfont St Giles and Beaconsfield branches. At home she has three pet budgies called Edgar, Ernie and Derrie!
Job Titles:
- Kate Graham SVN Student Veterinary Nurse
- Student Veterinary Nurse
- SVN Student Veterinary Nurse
Job Titles:
- Leila Dixon RVN Veterinary Nurse
Job Titles:
- Member of the Client Care Team
- Client Care Representative
- Liz Bilbrough Client Care Representative
- Wheelhouse Team in 1995 As a Locum Nurse
Liz joined the Wheelhouse Team in 1995 as a locum nurse, and never left! Liz is a local girl, being born and bred in Chalfont St Giles. She now lives on the Bucks/Berks border with her husband and two young children, one of each model - ‘Eddie' and ‘Katie'.
Liz has a cat called ‘Wellie', who she rescued a few years ago, he is approximately 17 years old, has one eye and various other bits not quite right! Liz has three guinea pigs, Eric, Elvis and Ernie. In between working part time, trying hard to be a mum and various after school activities, she enjoys cycling with her children, cooking but prefers to eat out! (less mess!) and holidays abroad.
Job Titles:
- SQP MBVNA Veterinary Nurse
Job Titles:
- Louise Turner RVN Head Veterinary Nurse - Chalfont St Giles and Beaconsfield
Job Titles:
- Member of the Client Care Team
- Client Care Representative
- Lucy Bunker Client Care Representative
Job Titles:
- Member of the Client Care Team
- Client Care Representative
- Lucy Parks Client Care Representative
Lucy joined Wheelhouse as a part-time Receptionist in September 2018 after the opportunity arose for her to turn her back on London corporate life and work in the community she loves. She lives in Amersham with her small Cypriot wife and small Cypriot rescue dog.
When she's not at Wheelhouse, Lucy runs her own art and upcycling business and also works as a freelance journalist. Outside of work, she loves exploring the beautiful Chiltern Hills with the dog, independent travel, Netflix documentaries and cocktails.
Lucy loves the variety of the role at Wheelhouse… and the opportunity to cuddle lots of animals.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Client Care Team
- Client Care Representative
- Madeleine Winder Client Care Representative
Job Titles:
- Mandy Unsworth SVN Student Veterinary Nurse
Job Titles:
- Member of the Client Care Team
- Client Care Representative
- Megan Regal Client Care Representative
Job Titles:
- Head Veterinary Surgeon Chesham and Amersham
Job Titles:
- Philippa Barclay RVN MISAP Head Veterinary Nurse ( Chesham & Amersham ) & Nurse Clinic Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Facilities Manager & Pet Crematorium
- Phillip Nolan Facilities Manager & Pet Crematorium
Job Titles:
- Rebecca Bedford RVN Deputy Head Nurse - Chalfont St Giles and Beaconsfield
Job Titles:
- Member of the Client Care Team
- Client Care Representative
- Rose Waterman Client Care Representative
Previously Rose worked in a customer service environment for 8 years including a veterinary practice as a Patient Care Assistant looking after the animals. Rose took 6 months off to travel and then started working at the Wheelhouse.
Growing up, Rose was surrounded by animals; Cats, Dogs, Rabbits, Hamsters, Snakes, Tortoises, Chickens, Giant African Land Snails and many more. At the moment Rose has many of her own animals, which include my little Jack Russel Pepper, 4 Rats, her Pink tongue and Blue tongue skinks and a little fish called Cleo.
Rose has a passion for rodents, and specifically rats. She often organises ‘Rat Parties' with her friends who also own rats, and make her own hammocks for them.
Outside of work, Rose likes to fundraise for different animal charities, she also does Pet portraits and photography alongside running her own ‘little pets' boarding from home.
Job Titles:
- Sam Wheeler SVN Student Veterinary Nurse
Job Titles:
- Member of the Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Team
- Sophie Parkinson Veterinary Physiotherapist
Job Titles:
- Sophie Ring RVN Veterinary Nurse and Student Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Member of the Client Care Team
- Client Care Representative
- Stacey King Client Care Representative
Job Titles:
- Stephanie Carter RVN Veterinary Nurse
Job Titles:
- Office Manager
- Tracey Franey Office Manager
Tracey joined The Wheelhouse in 2007 and loves working with the office team. Her job role is varied so very few days are the same and she is fortunate enough to work part-time so enjoys a good work/life balance with her husband of over 30yrs.
Tracey has three children, who are all grown up and flown the nest leaving her time to go to the gym, take long walks and regular catch ups with friends and family over a coffee or glass of wine or two!!