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David Black
Managing Director of XLVets
I am managing director of Paragon Veterinary Group - we are a 3-centre mixed practice - based in Carlisle, Penrith and Hexham. We also have an associate practice in Aspatria - Beacon Vets. My clinical role within the practice is on the large animal side, with a particular bias towards herd health and bovine reproduction - I hold a DBR and am an RCVS Recognised Specialist in Cattle Health and Production. I represent the UK on the World Buiatrics Committee. Outside work, I try to spend time with my wife and three daughters, and enjoy tame mountaineering, skiing, scuba and most outdoor activities.
E-mail: david.black@xlvets.co.uk
Mobile: 07734 388900
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Donald McMillan
Chairman of XLVets
I am a director in the Minster Veterinary Practice in York. We are a 30 vet, 11 site practice with dedicated farm, small animal, equine and poultry departments. Our equine and small animal departments provide referral services in the area and our poultry department has a nationwide coverage. Clinically I am involved in the farm and small animal departments. I am also interested in the management side of the practice, my main role here is in personnel matters.
Outside practice I like to spend time with my family. We keep a small flock of Shetlands and varying numbers of chickens. I love all things outdoors.
E-mail: don.mcmillan@xlvets.co.uk
Mobile: 07715 044438
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Charlie Lambert
Director Responsible for Farm Issues
Charlie Lambert. Founder partner of the first farm animal only veterinary practice in Cheshire. The practice opened in November 1999 as a 2 vet practice. We now cover a large area of Cheshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire and North Wales with a Team of 8 vets and 1 ET/AI Technician. The practice is approximately 80% Dairy and 20% Pigs with a small amount of Beef and Sheep work. The number of Dairy clients is rising steadily through reputation, hard work, dedication and a love of the job. Oh how I miss those horses with colic and the dogs with blocked anal glands!! When I am not at work I am usually running after my family or doing DIY around the house. Other interests include Shooting, Tennis, Snooker and thrashing my Quad bike around the Yorkshire Dales.
E-mail: charlie.lambert@xlvets.co.uk
Mobile: 07974 264272
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Andrew Turkington
Marketing Director
Based at Parklands Veterinary Group, Cookstown, Northern Ireland.
E-mail: andrew.turkington@xlvets.co.uk
Mobile: 07980 301465
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Andrew Davies
Director Responsible for Farm Issues
I am a Partner in the 10 person mixed practice at Southfield Veterinary Centre in Dorchester, Dorset. We provide care for both farm and companion animals. I work exclusively on farm side which is predominately dairy and I am interested in all the usual Dairy cow production and health issues but particularly Trace element nutrition , Mastitis control and proactive Health Planning programmes.
I am married with 2 teenage kids, 2 dogs 2 cats ,3 chickens and 18 sheep and I am going bald , blind and senile mainly as result of teenage kids! I enjoy Beer, Singing and Rugby and being Welsh! What a wonderful spring it was!
E-mail: andrew.davies@xlvets.co.uk
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Wendy Furness
Director Responsible for Equine Issues
I joined Scarsdale Veterinary Group in 1998 as an equine vet, gained my RCVS Certificate in Equine Practice in 2003 and joined the partnership in 2006.
My clinical work is 100% equine however from a business perspective I combine my clinical role with working on the Finance, Purchasing, Marketing, and Clinical excellence teams within our partnership. Working within these areas has kept me up to date with the needs and pressures of all aspects of mixed practice business.
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Neil Laing
Director Responsible for Farm Issues
I am a partner of Clyde Veterinary Group, a mixed practice in Lanark, where I work on the farm side. I have a particular interest in the nutritional management of ruminants, and following a study trip to New York State and Pennsylvania I have implemented fresh cow programmes on several farms with good results.
I am also responsible for personnel matters and employment law at Clyde Vet Group and have joint responsibility for medicine purchasing and negotiating with pharmaceutical companies.
I am a member of both the Sheep Veterinary Society and British Cattle Veterinary Association (BCVA). In my spare time I breed pedigree and commercial sheep and enjoy hill walking and spending time with my wife and three children.
E-mail: neil.laing@xlvets.co.uk
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Tim Hutchinson
Director Responsible for Small Animal Issues
I am a born and bred Yorkshire man – though hail from the down-to-earth outskirts of Barnsley rather than the more picturesque parts of the county! I have always had an interest in surgery (especially orthopaedics), so spent four years in a busy city-centre small animal practice in West Yorkshire before moving down to help develop the small animal side of Larkmead, 12 years ago, where I continue to pursue small animal clinical work (and the odd alpaca surgery!).
E-mail: tim.hutchinson@xlvets.co.uk
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Iain Richards
Director
I am one of five directors at the Westmorland Veterinary Group, a 12 vet, very mixed practice. Clinically, I have a great interest in sheep medicine, parasitology as well as anaesthesia and analgesia of all species. I have long been interested in practice management, initially with purchasing my first practice, but latterly through my work on SPVS council. I am currently coordinating the sheep and business modules for Farm Skills.
When not working and the weather is right, I enjoy sailing, golf, skiing and fell walking with my three untrained children and one partly trained Lab.
E-mail: iain.richards@xlvets.co.uk
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Andrew Curwen
Chief Executive
I qualified from Bristol Vet School in 1990 and worked in practice before moving into the pharmaceutical industry. During my time in industry, I was closely involved with the launch of the first BVD vaccine and gained from the experiences of the management training programmes of an international organisation. Prior to joining XLVets in 2006, I was Marketing Manager for Bayer Animal Health in the UK.
As Chief Executive I am responsible for supporting the Board of Directors to ensure that we set the best strategy for the organisation and deliver on our goal. Through cooperative-competition we strive to achieve clinical excellence in what we do, grow our practice businesses through meeting our clients needs, increase our business efficiency and effective practice communications, and most importantly, delivering high quality training for all our practice teams.
And whenever I can I enjoy mountain climbing and getting out on my bike.
E-mail: andrew.curwen@xlvets.co.uk
Mobile: 07834 268137
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Joanne Dodgson
Operations Manager
I joined XLVets after spending over 10 years working in sales and marketing roles within the animal health industry.
Based at the XLVets office in Dalston, my role is to manage the central communication function for the operational activities of XLVets. Working closely with the forums and XLVet members we provide support and co-ordination to ensure timely and effective delivery of growth initiatives, XLVet organised meetings, farm and equine newsletters and campaigns.
In my spare time I enjoy horse-riding and photography.
E-mail: joanne.dodgson@xlvets.co.uk
Telephone: 01228 711788
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Diane Armstrong
Equine Forum Co-ordinator
Based at the XLVets office in Dalston, adjacent to Paragon Veterinary Group, I work closely with the XLVets equine forum; organising meetings and dealing with member enquiries and provide support to the XLVet Board.
At Paragon I work as PA to the directors and training co-ordinator.
I enjoy travelling and spending time with my family.
E-mail: diane.armstrong@xlvets.co.uk
Telephone: 01228 711788
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Rachel Clarry
Office Co-Ordinator
Based at the XLVets offices in Dalston my role involves providing operational support and assistance to member practices.
I work closely with the small animal executive;providing support by organising meetings and CPD events, delivering small animal campaigns and producing the XLVets small animal client magazine "Small Talk".
In my spare time I enjoy travelling, walking in the Lakes and lots of retail therapy!
E-mail: rachel.clarry@xlvets.co.uk
Telephone: 01228 711788
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Anne Mallinson
Office Administrator
I joined XLVets as Office Administrator in 2009, working with Joanne & Rachel in the Dalston Office. My background is financial administration, having worked in retail and oil supply to farms, homes and businesses in Cumbria and Dumfries & Galloway.
I am married and live in Cumwhinton. We have no children but a large garden which takes all of my leisure hours. Travel in the USA and as members of the National Trust and English Heritage in the UK too is our other main hobby.
E-mail: anne.mallinson@xlvets.co.uk
Telephone: 01228 711788
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Alyson Staines
Farm Forum Manager
Based at the office in Dalston, I joined XLVets in January 2011 and will be responsible for supporting the Farm Forum, organising meetings, attending events and assisting with the Livestock Matters Magazine.
My background is in customer service, albeit in a rather different field, however I am a Cumbrian farmers’ daughter and trust me, it never leaves you!
I enjoy walking, spending time in France (drinking and eating) and beating on a local rough shoot.
E-mail: alyson.staines@xlvets.co.uk
Telephone: 01228 711788
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Sandy Armstrong
Farm Marketing Manager
I joined XLVets in March 2011 in the new position of Farm Marketing Manager, where I will support XLVet member practices and their teams with marketing activities.
For over twenty years I've worked in marketing and communications within different sectors; including agriculture, retail, advertising and social care. My career so far has centred around listening, understanding and delivering results and I'm really pleased to be back working within the farming sector.
E-mail: sandy.armstrong@xlvets.co.uk
Telephone: 01228 711788
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Arron King
IT Manager
My role involves developing the XLVets IT infrastructure to enable effective and efficient communication between member practices. I provide IT support and development services to XLVets and try to ensure everything runs as smoothly as possible!
I spend most of my time working from home but attend weekly meetings with the team at the XLVets office in Dalston.
In my spare time I enjoy playing football, cycling and walking in the Lake District.
Email: arron.king@xlvets.co.uk
Telephone: 01228 711788
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Sophie Throup
FarmSkills Manager
Based at the FarmSkills office at Bishopton Vets, Ripon, I work with all practices to help organise, promote, administer and fund FarmSkills courses to make sure you get the most out of this fantastic programme. With a strong background in marketing and farming, this is a great job for me.
When I am not at work, I look after our three young and very lively children, so there’s never a dull moment!
Email: sophie.throup@xlvets.co.uk
Telephone: 07854 063384
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Mina Booth
FarmSkills Assistant
Based at the FarmSkills office and working with Sophie, I am responsible for the administration of the FarmSkills training courses and gathering claims evidence for those practices eligible for RDPE funding.
I love travelling and experiencing new cultures and cuisines which I often try out on family and friends. So when I’m not in the kitchen I’m out enjoying the countryside with my dog.
Email: mina.booth@xlvets.co.uk
Telephone: 01765 608489
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