PORTLAND HOUSE VETS - Key Persons
Alan joined the practice after graduating from Edinburgh University in 2005. He became a partner in 2010, and then Clinical Director in 2017.
His main interests are in small animal surgery, particularly wound healing, farm herd health planning and zoo medicine. Alan carries out work for several local authorities licensing boarding kennels, dog breeding establishments and licensing keeping exotic animals. He is a member of the British Cattle Veterinary Association, the Pig Veterinary Society, the Veterinary Wound Healing association and the British Veterinary Zoological Society.
In his spare time Alan enjoys spending time with his family and watching rugby.
Alex graduated from University Liverpool in 2015 and started work a few weeks later. Her main interests include small animal internal medicine and ultrasound imaging. She became Clinical Director in March 2021.
Job Titles:
- Alexandra Popa MRCVS Veterinary Surgeon
- Veterinary Surgeon
Job Titles:
- Amy Loverance BVM BVS MRCVS Veterinary Surgeon
- Veterinary Surgeon
Becky graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2008. Her main interests are small animal surgery, cattle fertility and ophthalmology. She is also part of the zoo team, with a particular interest in primates.
Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her two young children and walking her dog.
Job Titles:
- Charlotte Foulger RVN Veterinary Nurse
- Veterinary Nurse
Charlotte qualified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse in 2019 and has been working at Portland House Vets since 2022. She enjoys all aspects of veterinary nursing, but especially enjoys providing in-patient care and running nursing clinics.
At home Charlotte keeps busy looking after her daughter and son. She has 3 pets: a tortoiseshell cat called Reagan, a Romanian rescue dog called Flynn and a chihuahua called Ava. Charlotte enjoys going out for day trips with her children and husband, as well as taking her dogs for walks. If she get any spare time, she enjoys doing creative pursuits, retail therapy and reading.
Job Titles:
- Chloe Yeates RVN Veterinary Nurse
- Veterinary Nurse
Chloe has been in the veterinary industry for 7 years. She graduated from Hartpury university with a Fdsc equine veterinary nursing degree in 2023. Chloe's interests are in larger animals, exotics/wildlife and surgery/inpatient care.
Outside of work, Chloe enjoys hiking with her two Labradors, reading and riding horses.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Reception and Office Team
- Receptionist
- Claire Taylor Receptionist
Job Titles:
- Deputy Head
- Nurse
- Ellen Smith RVN Deputy Head Nurse
Ellen qualified in 2014 from Bottle Green Training. She has worked in the practice since 2010 starting as a volunteer kennel assistant. She enjoys all aspects of nursing and holds a certificate in feline nursing.
Job Titles:
- Administrator
- Member of the Reception and Office Team
- Farm Administrator
Eve joined us in June 2024, now working in our farm department. She's loved getting to know the team and keeping the vets organised. She enjoys riding her horse Jack, shooting and walking her Labradors.
Job Titles:
- Deputy Head
- Nurse
- Gemma Bilby RVN Deputy Head Nurse
Gemma qualified in 2022 and was promoted to the position of Deputy Head Nurse in November 2022. She enjoys all aspects of nursing and in her spare time she enjoys long walks with her dog, Hunter and baking cakes for the team at Portland House!
Job Titles:
- Member of the Reception and Office Team
- Practice Manager
- Heather Upton Practice Manager
Heather joined the Portland House team in March 2019. Upon graduation Heather pursued a career in banking before moving to the education sector and most recently the NHS.
Heather is delighted to now be working in an environment she is truly passionate about - she is a keen horse rider and all-round animal lover. In her spare time, she enjoys going to CrossFit and keeping fit.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Reception and Office Team
- Receptionist
- Helen Day Receptionist
Helen joined our practice's reception team in May 2021. When not at work she loves to spend time going for walks in the area and spending time with her family.
Job Titles:
- Accounts Clerk
- Member of the Reception and Office Team
- Jane Bratton Accounts Clerk
Jane has been at Portland house since 2005 as our accounts clerk. Jane has four cats; Chaz, Rosie, Fluffy and Billy.
Job Titles:
- Head
- Nurse
- Julie Forrest RVN Head Nurse
Julie started her nursing career in 1994 and qualified as a RVN in 1997 before joining Portland House in 1999. She holds a nursing certificate in anaesthesia and critical care. She is also the clinical coach for our student nurses.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Reception and Office Team
- Receptionist
- Karen Howard Receptionist
Karen joined Portland House Vets in 1983 on the Youth Training Scheme as a Receptionist/Nurse at our Ollerton surgery. When not at work she enjoys going walking with her Labrador dogs Cain and Georgia, spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren, and going on holidays.
Katherine graduated from London in 2017, having previously studied Animal Science (Livestock Technology) at Newcastle. She initially worked in a busy farm practice on the Welsh Borders before coming to Nottinghamshire to join her husband on his family farm. She subsequently joined Portland as a farm vet in 2023. She has keen interest in herd and flock health and is currently working towards her Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (Cattle).
In her spare time, Katherine is busy on the family farm with two children, several horses, dogs and a pedigree flock of Greyface Dartmoor sheep.
Job Titles:
- RVN Veterinary Nurse
- Veterinary Nurse
Katie completed a degree in Animal Behaviour Science before joining the practice in 2013. She has a keen interest in animal behaviour counselling, especially canine problem behaviours.
In her spare time Katie enjoys hobbies in arts and crafts.
Job Titles:
- RVN C & G CertVNES Veterinary Nurse
- Veterinary Nurse
Kelly joined the team in 2006 and qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2010. Her clinical interests include nursing exotic species and canine and feline nutrition.
Outside of work she is kept busy looking after a young toddler but also likes reading and running. She also volunteers for Notts Bat Group doing bat rehabilitation
Job Titles:
- Member of the Reception and Office Team
- Lisa Aisthorpe Receptionist
Job Titles:
- Mandy Chetwynd RVN Veterinary Nurse
- Veterinary Nurse
Mandy started with the practice in July 2000 and qualified in 2003. You will find her based at our branch surgery in Ollerton three days a week. When's she's not at work, she's busy with 2 young children, husband, dog and Tortoise!
Job Titles:
- Melissa Welch RVN Veterinary Nurse
- RVN Veterinary Nurse
- Veterinary Nurse
Mel qualified in April 2024 and joined the practice in May. She enjoys all aspects of nursing but has an interest in anaesthetics and loves getting involved with exotics when she can.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Director at Portland House
- Veterinary Surgeon
Mike graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2011 with degrees in Veterinary Medicine and Biological Anthropology. He joined the practice shortly after qualifying from vet school and enjoys the variety mixed practice brings. Mike has a keen interest in small animal internal medicine, surgery and diagnostic imaging. He also forms part of the zoo species team and has a particular interest in primates.
Job Titles:
- Niamh Clark SVN Student Veterinary Nurse
- Student Veterinary Nurse
- Veterinary Nurse
Niamh joined the practice in 2019 after her love for animals prompted a career change. She enjoys all aspects of nursing but particularly inpatient care.
In her spare time, Niamh enjoys spending time with family and walks with her dog Lola.
Piers graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2022 with degrees in Veterinary Medicine and Embryology. He joined the team in September shortly after graduating. His main interests are in soft tissue surgery and reproduction medicine across all aspects of mixed practice. Piers is also keen on zoo and exotic veterinary medicine with previous experience working at a wildlife rehabilitation center and sanctuary in Malawi.
In his spare time, Piers likes to work out and try his hand at as many sports and hobbies possible. He also enjoys wildlife photography and being outdoors when the weather permits.
Rebecca graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2023 with degrees in Veterinary Medicine and Evolutionary Biology. She loves both her small and large animal work, particularly large animal surgery and fertility, and small animal diagnostics and emergency care. Rebecca also manages our Social Media accounts.
Outside of work, Rebecca loves staying social and busy with friends, organising parties and movie nights and travelling as much as she can.
Job Titles:
- Sally Wareham RVN Veterinary Nurse
- Veterinary Nurse
Sally has been a qualified small animal veterinary nurse since 2010, having started training in 2007. She has worked at multiple practices, including being a head nurse and a locum veterinary nurse. Sally has an ISFM certificate in feline nursing and loves feline behaviour (she especially enjoys a spicy cat). Sally has also completed her schedule 3 training which allows her to do small procedures such as lump removals.
Sally has done many things over her years in practice and enjoys new challenges, particularly keen to do things with exotic/zoo and large animal. At home, Sally has 4 cats and 2 Labradors.
Will graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2019, and joined the team in July 2019, having spent some time as a student with us. He is one of our farm vets, and enjoys large animal surgery, routine fertility work and young stock management.
Originally from Staffordshire, Will enjoys being outdoors in the countryside and, in his spare time, he enjoys fishing, clay pigeon shooting, horse racing and watching rugby.