BROOKEND - Key Persons
Alex graduated in 2018 from Warsaw University of Life Sciences. He spent 3 years working in a small animal practice in South Yorkshire before moving to Witham and joining the team at Brookend.
In his free time Alex enjoys gardening and long-distance hiking, recently completing the 500km long distance trail in the Beskids Mountains in Poland.
Alison joined the reception team in 2021. She loves working with the public and interacting with the animals that visit us at Brookend. Alison has two mad dogs which she loves like her babies. Alison enjoys the outdoors, time with friends and family and dog walking.
Anne joined our reception team in 2018. She loves greeting the clients and their pets. Anne has completed the Competent Veterinary Dispenser Award, her goal being to complete her Silver receptionist award. In Anne's spare time, she enjoys long walks with her two dogs, listening to country music and yoga.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Nursing Team
- Veterinary Nurse
Demi-Nicole is our newest member of the nursing team qualifying in December 2022. She has a keen interest in anaesthetics and surgery and hopes to do additional qualifications in these areas, eventually building up to completing her certificate in advanced veterinary nursing one day. Outside of nursing she loves horse riding and painting, as well as long walks with her cocker spaniel Treacle. She has recently moved to Witham from London and is finding a quieter pace of life here!
Helen qualified as a veterinary nurse with honors in 2012. She joined Brookend last year heads our cat care clinics including our new cat only clinics and feline blood pressure monitoring. Helen lives with her boyfriend and two guinea pigs, away from work she enjoys spending time with her family and friends and reading.
Helen joined our reception team in 2014 and was promoted to Practice Manager in 2017. She has completed her Veterinary Practice Management Certificate and along with Head Nurse Katie, recently completed her training as a MHFA (Mental Health First Aider) Helen loves to spend time with her family and enjoys music, singing, theatre trips, cycling, yoga and a good box set!
Hollie qualified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse in 2020 after completing her training with Writtle College University. She has a passion for nursing hospitalised patients and critical care needs and has recently completed her Certificate Of Veterinary Nursing In Emergency & Critical Care. Hollie was recently promoted to Deputy Head Nurse.
Jenni has been part of our reception team for over 10 years. She is in her element when greeting the new puppies and kittens. She enjoys family outings with children and black lab and has recently taken up horse riding again.
Jill joined Brookend in April 2017 after a long career in finance. She has a love for all animals (except Snakes!) and currently has many pets at home including Dogs, Cats, Rabbits and a parrot. Jill has an exceptional love of horses.
Karen has been with the team since 2004 when she joined an office administrator in 2011 she was promoted to practice manager. She has completed her Veterinary Practice Administration Certificate. Karen recently decided she wanted to spend more time with clients and staff so has moved to reception. Karen owns Tigger the cat after adopting him when he was abandoned at the surgery with 2 broken legs when just 3 months old.
Katie is our head nurse. She qualified in 2004, training at Brookend and Writtle College, having joined us as a school leaver. She enjoys leading the Brookend nursing team. Katie has extensive knowledge of dog behavioural problems and runs regular nursing clincs.
Kim has been at Brookend since leaving school in 1995. She enjoys the day to day interaction with the animals and has a particular interest in hand-rearing newborns. Kim's hobbies include reading, and spending time with her friends and families, she has recently rediscovered her love of horse riding along with her daughter.
Margaret joined the practice in 2005. She is very involved with Guide Dogs for the Blind and was formerly a puppy walker for the charity, taking on two retired guide dogs. Her main interests are football and tennis, and she is an obsessive Chelsea FC fan. As well as her reception role Margaret also manages the charity work at Brookend.
Job Titles:
- Office Administrator
- Member of Staff
Mary is the longest serving member of staff, having joined the practice in 1988, before it became Brookend. She enjoys talking to the clients and has completed four customer care courses. She is also a qualified nutritional advisor. After many years on reception, Mary now works in the office with Helen.
In her spare time, Mary enjoys spending time with her family and enjoys dancing, music, theatre, and holidays.
Michelle is the newest addition to our reception/client care team, having joined us from the NHS. Michelle was a pet groomer for many years and brings a wealth of experience with her. In her spare time, Michelle likes to spend time with her family and pets.
Connor graduated from the University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest in 2018 and joined the Brookend team one year later. Connor has a particular interest in diagnostic imaging, recently completing his certificate in Small Animal Diagnostic Imaging (WBIS ) but also enjoys surgical work. Outside of practice, Connor enjoys music, gaming and walking with his dogs.
Job Titles:
- Veterinary Surgeon and Director
Mike qualified from the Royal Veterinary College in 1997 and has been at Brookend ever since. In 2009 he became a partner with Alison and took over full control of the practice following Alison's retirement in 2014. He enjoys all aspects of general practice and is especially interested in orthopaedic surgery. He enjoys spending his time off with his young family. Mike has played rugby for Witham, and loves travelling to watch the Welsh rugby team in action.
Rebecca qualified from Edinburgh University in 1997, she has been part of the team at Brookend since 2002. Rebecca has a keen interest in exotic pets and general medicine. She loves spending time with her two boys and going for long walks with her dogs.
Nicola qualified at the College of Animal Welfare in 2013. At work she is especially interested in radiography, all feline medicine including our cat only clinics. Nicola runs our social media platforms and really enjoys taking pictures and videos to educate our clients, and of course, loves the cute puppies and kittens. Nicola has three cats of her own, Arthur, Ernie and Bertie and believes that she would be classed as a crazy cat lady if she didn't have a husband and young daughter! In her spare time, she enjoys photography, time with her family and friends, and camping.
Paige is new to the reception team, joining us in 2021, and is loving the opportunity of interacting with the animals every day. Paige has two cats and a little boy. She enjoys days out with her family and aims to become a crazy cat lady if her husband will let her.
Becca qualified in 2018 after completing her training with Writtle College University. She takes a special interest in feline medicine, hypertension and diabetes. She has 3 cats of her own, all rescued since starting as a student nurse. Outside of work she enjoys spending time socialising with her family and friends.
Sarah joined the team at Brookend in 2012 but has been nursing for many years. She trained at the RSPCA in London and qualified in 2006. She has a keen interest in nursing rabbits. Anaesthesia and inpatient care. In her spare time, she enjoys socialising with friends and family and cake decorating.
Sharon is a qualified veterinary nurse and has worked at Brookend since 1992. She has the specific jobs of dealing with the many insurance claims we process, and stock control, but whenever possible she still enjoys some patient contact, and watching interesting operations. Sharon's hobbies are dog walking and cross stitch.