ALISTAIR POOLE VETERINARY SURGERY - Key Persons
Clare graduated from the University of Hertfordshire in 1996 with a chemistry degree. After spending a year working in a hospital laboratory, she realised that her life-long love of animals was really the driving force behind her future career. Clare qualified as a Veterinary Nurse in 1999. At this time, her real passion for nursing was sparked when she when she took on a three-legged puppy while working at a small animal practice. Clare has been happily employed as a Registered Veterinary Nurse here since returning to nursing in 2012 following a break to have her family. Her areas of interest within the nursing profession are predominantly small animals, exotics, and anaesthesia.
Clare has two dogs; a Border Terrier called Fern and a crazy Cocker Spaniel called Eddie, she also has a tortoise, rabbits and a guinea pig.
When not spending time with the animals, the rest of Clare's time is spent with her family, she has two children (Libby, our Student Veterinary Nurse, and James).
Liz graduated in 2008 from the Royal Veterinary College in London and initially worked for two years in mixed practice. Having tried her hand at all aspects of veterinary work, she decided to focus her career on small animal practice, joining a busy first opinion practice in North Hertfordshire. She particularly enjoys this sector of veterinary medicine and surgery due to the varied case load it provides and the opportunities to build good client and patient relationships.
Liz has known the practice for many years, having grown up and been educated in Harpenden and her family have been long standing clients of the practice. Liz also frequently spent time at the surgery during her training. She joined the practice in 2014 and loves working part time in her home town.
Liz thoroughly enjoys all aspects of the general practitioner, but is particularly interested in emergency and critical care and also the care and health of the geriatric patient. She enjoys attending courses and seminars to further her knowledge.
Liz has two children, Rita and Owen and a rescue dog called Dexter. Dexter was brought to Liz as a young puppy fighting for his life after travelling over from Ireland - now fighting fit and years on, he has been one of the most rewarding cases of Liz's career so far, and consequently he gets away with everything!
Job Titles:
- Senior Veterinary Surgeon
Gillian qualified in 1985 from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Edinburgh. She has worked purely in small animal practice since qualifying, for the majority of that time here in Hertfordshire and joined us in October 2021 as Senior Veterinary Surgeon.
Gillian enjoys all aspects of veterinary practice especially dermatology and soft tissue surgery. She particularly enjoys building a good relationship with owners and their pets.
On a personal front she is divorced with two grown up sons and has two lovely cats. She enjoys walking, keeping fit and is a keen golfer.
Libby is our Student Veterinary Nurse, currently in her second year of training. Her veterinary career began here when she worked as a Saturday girl. After completing her A-levels she spent a couple of years working in a rescue kennels, but ultimately decided that veterinary nursing was her future career. She has a special interest in animal behaviour, stemming from her time in rescue. She also has a passion for exotics, especially advocating for proper care of small mammals. She currently has four guinea pigs called Cheese, Chips, Brie and Cheddar. In her spare time she enjoys going to live music with her friends and training her Border Terrier, Fern.
Lisa began her career in 1987 working for a veterinary practice in Bedfordshire. She has gained experience in the various job roles needed within a practice: nursing, administration, credit control and practice manager. Lisa especially enjoys meeting the clients and their pets and knows absolutely everything!
She owns three cats Angel, Forest and Lola. Lisa has a daughter Tayla and works part-time and has been happily employed since November 2008.
Natalie qualified as a Veterinary Nurse in 2012 after undertaking her training here at the practice. She went on to work at a few different practices before returning here in November 2020.
Natalie's areas of interest are surgical nursing and anaesthesia and she loves being in theatre.
When not at work, Natalie is either looking after her six year old, Jacob, or down the stables with her horse, Candy.
Sam grew up in Australia and graduated from Sydney University in 1993. She then spent 6 years in England working in London and backpacking in Europe in the summer.
Sue met Alistair in 1986 whilst he was in his first job after qualifying from Glasgow University, and they married in October 1993.
Sue and Alistair shared their love of animals. Shortly after opening the practice in 1992, they nursed a cocker spaniel in heart failure. This spaniel, Jane, went on to become their first pet, and she moved in with them in the flat above the surgery.
Sue helped Alistair set up the practice and together they undertook all the manual work involved in converting the premises before opening. Sue worked on reception in the evening after finishing her day job as a GP Practice Manager in the early years.
Wendy began her career at De Montfort University and gained a degree in Environmental Studies. Despite her interest in the environment she decided she would be more suited to working with animals. In November 2001 Wendy began training to be a Veterinary Nurse at the surgery and qualified in 2004. She has now worked with us for 21 years.
Wendy has a special interest in anaesthesia and surgical nursing so she enjoys working in theatre assisting the operating Veterinary Surgeon. Wendy ensures that you are reminded of your pet's booster vaccinations and uses her good organisational skills to help clients with their pet insurance claims. She qualified as an assessor and is able to support the Student Veterinary Nurses in their studies.
Wendy is a real cat lover and has a black and white moggie called 'Winnie' who frequently brings home unwanted gifts for her!