The Practice Staff
With Mr. Frere-Cook, there are two other Veterinary Surgeons. A qualified Head Nurse is supported by a team of four other nurses at various stages through training. We have five caring and competent Receptionists and two experienced office based support staff. Professional and lay staff continuity is considered very important and staff are supported via training and continuing professional development so as to realise their full potential. The Practice has always been a Veterinary Nurse Training Practice and is proud of its successes in supporting nurses through to qualification. Being one of the few practices in the area sponsoring formal training we have been able to select a higher calibre of trainee, which is to everyone's benefit.
Mr D B C Frere-Cook BVSc; MRCVS; Director
David Frere-Cook inherited a medical inclination from his father’s side of the family. Skipping a couple of generations and changing from human to animals simply consolidated his interest and enthusiasm. A short commission in 7th Gurkha Rifles preceded the 5 year academic slog to a degree in Veterinary Science from Bristol University, and paved the way to a further 3 years in the army as a Captain in the Royal Army Veterinary Corps. David then spent two years in practice broadening his interest in small animal practice before returning to the Bishops’ Waltham area in 1986 to establish the Shield Veterinary Centre. Whilst still doing as much clinical work as possible he also has to juggle his time managing the business and its employees. Outside of work David is heavily involved with St John Ambulance, particularly with their work relating to the eye hospital in Jerusalem. David enjoys an occasional game of tennis and is the chairman of the Meon Valley tennis tournament which raises money each year for a selected charity. David lives locally with his wife and three sons, all of whom are at various stages of their full time education. Although David would never claim to have a favourite breed of dog he is the proud owner of two pointers, Buma and Hebe.
Gillian Taylor BVSc; MRCVS
Gillian qualified from Liverpool University in the summer of 1984, making 2009 her silver anniversary of becoming a vet.
After a long career with the charity PDSA she returned to private practice 6 years ago, finally joining us at Shield in January 2007 and, we hope, is very settled here. She lives locally and enjoys being part of the local community in which she has lived for nearly 20 years. Gillian maintains a link with Animal Charities in her role as a trustee of the national assistance dog charity Canine Partners. Gillian strives to be a good all round 1st opinion Veterinary Surgeon and provide a caring and competent service to all our clients. Gillian currently has two black Labradors, Ghillie and Syd, who keep her fit and a large garden that she hopes will one day be organised!
Caroline Loach BVSc; MRCVS
Graduating from Bristol in 1993 Caroline returned to Wales, working in mixed animal practice. She moved to Hampshire several years later and started at Shield in 1998. She worked full time until 2000 when she took maternity leave to start a family. Caroline returned to work part time, mainly evenings and weekends covering the emergency service. She is especially interested in rabbit medicine and emergency and critical care. Outside of work she’s kept busy with two dogs, two children and one husband! When not on call she enjoys karate followed by a glass of wine! In addition Caroline is a voluntary assessor for the charity Pets As Therapy (PAT dogs).
Anna Rudgley RVN; Head Nurse
Anna is our Head Nurse and has accumulated vast experience in Veterinary Nursing over the last 10 years. She qualified in 2001 and was working as a senior nurse before joining our team as Head Nurse in 2008. She is especially interested in training our nurses and uses her qualification as an A1 assessor to its fullest juggling the training needs of her four students with the demands of her Head Nurse role. Anna lives with her fiancee and their dog Popeye, a wirehaired dachshund. She is also a keen horsewoman and regularly competes with her horse Duke.
Sarah Humble
Sarah is the newest member of the nursing team, joining us in February 2009, she comes to us from the renowned referral practice, Anderson Sturgess, where she worked as a kennel assistant gaining valuable experience in how a practice works on a day to day basis and animal handling. She also gained valuable experience working for several years at The Otter and Owl Wildlife Park. Sarah comes from an animal orientated family; her husband, Mark, is currently a zoo keeper at Marwell. She has settled in with us very well and starts her college training January 2010.
Christina Johnson
Christina joined us as a 1st year trainee in 2006. Although she had not previously worked in a veterinary surgery she had 4 years experience working with animals at a local kennels, where she continues to help out on occasion. In addition to this her keen interest in emergency and critical care has led to her gaining further experience at a Veterinary Emergency Care Provider. Christina is a local girl and lives with her family and the family dog, Millie.
Maria Harmer
Maria first came to our attention in January 2007 when she came to us for work experience from Sparsholt College where she was studying for the National Diploma in Animal Management. On completion of the course, in June 2007, a job with us was waiting for her. She clearly enjoys her job and is doing well in her formal training. Maria owns a lovely retired greyhound called Happy who is rather fond of chasing the local deer- don’t worry he has yet to even get close!
Sarah Randell
Besides our Head Nurse Sarah is our most experienced nurse on the team, having worked full time in Veterinary nursing for over 4 years. She came to us with a background interest in equine; having had horses most of her life. She lives locally with her brothers and their family dog Molly, the staffie.
Jan Matthews; Senior Receptionist
Jan joined our team way back in 2001 and quickly proved to be a valuable member of the team. They say never work with children or animals and Jan has done both! Before joining us she was a Children’s gymnastic and trampoline coach, due to back problems she sadly had to leave this behind but their loss is our gain. Jan works full time between the two surgeries in the Shield Vet Group and is responsible for pet insurance claims, client accounts and tries to maintain our computer system.
Outside of work Jan still enjoys gentle horse riding and spending time with her family including her two energetic golden retrievers, Amber and Isla.
Jackie O’Hara
Jackie is our second longest serving receptionist, having been on the team since 1998. Although only part time she is a familiar face to many of our clients. Outside of work Jackie is very involved in greyhound rescue; helping the charity to rehome greyhounds, lurchers and whippets. She has 7 dogs of her own and in addition will often foster dogs waiting to find a family.
Lyndsey Smith
Lyndsey joined the practice in November 2007 after more than 10yrs as a personnel manager with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary- quite a change! She has enjoyed learning new skills and feels on the whole animals are easier to work with than seafarers! During her time with us Lyndsey has undertaken and completed a BTEC in Veterinary Client Care. She has two Great Danes that she takes on holiday every year and really loves paddling in the sea on a Cornish beach with them. Outside of work Lyndsey is an avid reader and has been a church bell ringer for over 12 years, ringing regularly for Sunday service and weddings.
Carole Cowley
Carole has been working with us since 2001 and is certainly a valued member of the team. Having previously worked for her husband she views working with us as a bit of a break! Being an animal lover she is well suited to her role. Her current pet, Charlie, is a Tibetan terrier, which, outside of work, Carole enjoys trying to wear out.
Susan Willman
Having initially started working with us at the Hedge End surgery in 2002 to cover a long term sickness Susan has stayed with us picking up the shifts that no one else could cover, providing a valuable back up to our other receptionists. Susan lives locally with her husband, two children and the family cat, Ebony.