Charlie qualified from University College Dublin in 1975 before spending a few months in mixed practice in Ireland. He joined this practice (then called 'Brain & Cullen') on 1st January 1976. In 1980 he became a partner and he has been here ever since. Charlie's main interests are in racing and reproductive work, covering many of our top yards and studs. He also does a lot of show jumping work and went to the Los Angeles Olympics as team vet to the Australian Show jumping team.

Mark qualified from Edinburgh University in 1976. He joined the practice in 1978 after a time working in mixed practice. Mark became a partner in 1984 after Chris Cullen retired to Devon. His main interests are in competition horse work, specifically one and three day eventing. He also carries out a high percentage of our pre-purchase examinations. He was team vet for the Portuguese three day event team at the Barcelona Olympics and then for the Spanish event team until 1998. Mark went to the Sydney Olympics with the Greek individual competitor Heidi Antikatsides. Since 2001 Mark has been team vet for the British Young Rider Three Day Event team.

Jeremy qualified from Liverpool University in 1983. He worked in mixed practices in Pembrokeshire and Upton-on-Severn before joining the clinic, then ‘ Brain, McCartan and Lucey ‘. He became a partner in 1988 . Jeremy has a distinction in Small Animal Surgery and Medicine. He is the clinic’s main orthopaedic surgeon. He is also in charge of the scintigraphy unit and performs most of the bone scans as well as a large percentage of lameness investigations in the surgery. As his role as duty vet at Newbury Racecourse suggests he has a keen interest in racehorse work. A true believer in life being all about having fun and a lover of all outdoor pursuits, it is not strange to find Jeremy on a beach kite surfing!

Richard qualified from Liverpool University with a BVSc in 1984. He worked in practices in Nottingham and Lichfield before moving to Bourton Vale in 1989. Richard became a partner in 1993. He is the practice's main surgeon, carrying out all the wind surgery and much of the abdominal and soft tissue surgery. He gained the Royal College Certificate in Equine Practice in 1989 and a Certificate in Equine Surgery (Soft Tissue) in 1995.  Richard was an examiner for three years for the RCVS Certificate in Equine Practice, and was Chairman in his final year 2000. He is currently a member of the RCVS Equine Medicine & Surgery Board. He has presented papers, mainly concerning surgery, at BEVA meetings. Any spare time is spent with a pair of binoculars bird spotting.

Greg was born and brought up in Poland before deciding on a veterinary career which brought him to the British Isles to learn English and qualify in veterinary science at Glasgow University. Initially he worked in a mixed practice near Milton Keynes before moving to an equine clinic at Newark near Nottingham. In 1995 Greg arrived at Bourton Vale and joined the partnership in 1999. Actively involved in stud work, he is the Clinic's main vet for AI work and embryo transfer, at which he happily works 24 hours a day, except while working on his prized Maserati and his latest addition, a Ferrari!

Tom, our 'Kiwi' vet, qualified in 1998 at Massey University, New Zealand. He has worked exclusively in equine practices, so advice about the welfare of your canine pets should possibly be taken with a pinch of salt! He spent three and a half years working in a large equine practice in Sydney, Australia gaining a huge amount of experience. He joined us here in April 2002 and is actively involved in every area of equine practice. He is a true all-round equine vet and will turn his hand to any task. He likes lameness investigations particularly in racing and polo work and he runs our scintigraphy (bone scanning) unit.   He can also turn his hand to surgery when needed.

Tasha joined us in November 2003 initially as a locum after qualifying from Edinburgh University. She comes from a family steeped in veterinary connections with one uncle John McEwen working in Chepstow and another Bobby McEwen in Lambourn in very good veterinary practices.  She has competed very successfully at showing and eventing and more recently point-to-pointing.  She is interested in all areas of equine vet work, especially anaesthesia.

Adele Lewis BVetMed MRCVS

Holly Curgenven BVSc MRCVS

Holly graduated from Liverpool University in 2002.  She worked in mixed practice for one year before specialising in equine work in North Wales and Derbyshire before joining us in September 2007.  Holly is particularly interested in surgery, anaesthesia and stud work and she completed her GP Certificate in Equine Medicine in 2005.   For those of you who are yet to meet her, she is rapidly becoming known as the noisy one!!

NURSES

The nurses assist the surgeons with all the surgical, medical and diagnostic cases. This includes "scrubbing in" for major surgeries and ensuring the vets have all the correct drugs and equipment to hand. They maintain the sterility and hygiene codes that the practice employs and manage stock control in and out of the dispensary. Numerous laboratory test are carried out daily by the nurses who pass the results on to the consulting vets. They operate on a nightly and weekend rota for emergency call outs. In addition the daily care in the hospital yard is carried out by our 2 resident grooms who live on site and do all stable duties.

  Suzanne Morgan

Suzanne has a HND in Equine Management and Technology from Bishop Burton College.   She joined BVEC in September 2002 as a groom but has now been promoted to nursing status.  Suzanne now runs our busy laboratory facilities and manages the operating theatre.

  Susan Stodart

Originally from Scotland, Susan has been living in Gloucestershire for the past eight years.  She brings a wealth of experience to the practice having been head girl to event rider William Miflin and polo and racing trainer Martin Meade.   For the last 5 years she has worked for the local racing trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies and was responsible for veterinary care and physiotherapy as well as looking after 5 horses.  She regularly competes on her own horse.

  Hayley Adams

Hailey joined us in March 2007.  She brings a wealth of nursing experience having worked at Woodlands Veterinary Clinic near Cheltenham for 6 years and then at Stow Vets for 7 years.  She is a valuable addition to our nursing team.

  Lucy Dickenson

Lucy joined us in July 2007.  A local girl, she completed a 2 yr National Diploma course at Hartpury College and a 6 month Higher National Diploma course at the National Stud.  She has worked at many top thoroughbred studs including in New Zealand and the more local Stratford Place Stud. 

ACCOUNTS

Heather joined us in October 2005 and comes with a good background in horses as well as excellent book-keeping qualifications.  Heather is from Mill Farm, Greet, the daughter of Cecil Pearce, a well known hunting family.  Heather used to work for Masstock Arable (UK) Ltd as the Group Credit Controller and prior to that was in the Army.  Heather hunted with the North Cotswold Hunt from the age of 7 yrs and was for a while the Vice Chairman of the Hunt Supporters Club.

The Clinic has 3 very friendly and efficient secretaries to keep the practice in order. The office is the 'engine room' of the clinic, organizing the daily visit schedule for our nine vets, and doing all their booking. Multi-skilled they can all turn their hand to any task that comes into the clinic!

Dominique Green    (currently on maternity leave)

Dominique has joined us from Nigel Twiston-Davies. She rides out every morning for Sue Nock before starting work. Dom regularly competes in  eventing and team chasing.  She studies the racing form daily and can always be counted on to assist in picking winners. 

Zarah Barter

Zarah started with us at the end of July 2006.  She has lots of previous experience working with horses and has worked for Hereford Racecourse as the commercial executive.  She has travelled the world and is now happily married and living in Gloucester.

  Lucinda Campbell

Lucinda has been with us since April 2002, having previously been assistant trainer for 6 years in a local Cotswold racing yard.  She has a wealth of knowledge of the care and rehabilitation of racehorses.  She is married to our Kiwi vet Tom Campbell.  Lucinda started as one of our nurses but with staff changes has moved into the front office to take on a receptionist's role.  

Amy Voules

Amy joined us in April 2007.  She is a keen follower of foxhounds, so when not at work she can be found out hunting!   Amy has worked with event horses and groomed at Badminton and Burghley for Beanie Sturgis (nee Hughes) where she won the best groom in 2007!