The Cullompton Vale Vet Team
Donald Henry Ellicott - Partner
Donald is the founding father of our present practice, having the vision to embrace both progressive small and large animal work since way back in 1965 when he graduated. His absolute commitment to the practice, and quality veterinary care, is largely responsible for the excellent standards found at "The Vale" today. His immense kindness, patience and boyish sense of humour have been appreciated by clients, staff and business contacts for 45 years now. At 68 years the candle never burned brighter.
George Dart - Partner
Born In 1951, first lambing in 1956, graduated and joined the Vale in 1975. He is fully committed to Farm animal health with special interest in cattle nutrition and metabolic disease, pig preventive medicine and health security. Camelids have recently provided a new and stimulating challenge.
Alan Benson - Partner
Alan joined the practice in 1987 as a mixed vet graduating from Edinburgh and soon became popular both on farms and on the small animal side but quickly developed a passion for small animal surgery and became the first full time small animal partner.
Alan's Scottish charm has enabled him to gather a team of dedicated nurses with which he has expanded the small animal side of the practice and his clients have warmed to him much like the Scottish whiskey does on a cold winter's night!
All who meet him can compare him to a great single malt whiskey!
Martyn Whitehead DBR - Partner
Another Vale 'lifer', graduating from Bristol in 1988, Martyn sets academic standards for us all, including a Diploma in Bovine Reproduction in 2001. Monitoring the cost - benefits of veterinary intervention, and recording disease patterns for NADIS contribute greatly to both practice and clients alike.
Duncan Findlay - Partner
This friendly Yorkshire giant shows a delicate touch handling microscopic embryos in his ET programmes. Duncan has a dynamic interest in dairy and beef health especially fertility. He now speaks fluent Devonshire, to his French cows!
Kate Fairclough Cert SAM - Partner
Kate joined us in 2004 to help lead the small animal team. Having gained wide ranging experience in different types of practice and seen some interesting parts of the world, she rapidly attained the double distinction of being our first female partner and first holder of an RCVS Certificate in Small animal medicine. She put huge efforts into developing the new College Road Surgery and is solely responsible for its interesting flooring!
Louise Findlay - Senior Associate
Louise completes our international team being from Northern Ireland. Combines rearing 3 fine sons with mixed practice duties having a great depth of experience on the farm side.
Anne White
From even further north, Anne has settled happily into Devon life, exhibiting a wide range of skills in both the large and small animal departments. Anne appears mild mannered until you put a racquet in her hand!!
Jenny Metcalfe
Jenny is a wonderfully dedicated vet with an encyclopaedic knowledge of her subject. Her first love is emergency and critical care medicine and lights on in the surgery, late at night, often indicate Jenny is providing a very sick pet with the best care imaginable.
Ben Burton
Locally raised and educated Ben 'cut his teeth' in outdoor pig farming before training in Edinburgh. He is now fully farm orientated with special interest in young stock rearing, cattle embryology and fertility. He has successfully started a sheep AI service after training in South Africa.
Dan Leyman
One more thoroughly local lad with generations of farming connections. Dan has made great strides in developing skills in herd health management in the past 3 years. His involvement with robotic milking systems has been an interesting challenge.
Marie Heald GP Cert (SAM)
Marie came to the Vale to specialise in small animal work and complete her General Practitioners Certificate in small animal studies. Being a clever girl, she achieved that and a successful pregnancy all in 9 months and is now a full time Mum and a highly valued part time vet.
Sarah Bernasconi
Sarah's grandfather was a leading figure in westcountry veterinary circles, with pioneering ideas and a superb intellect. She inherited most of his gifts but not his long arms so soon after graduating in June 2007 she joined our small animal department and set about expanding her many skills. Sarah has a special interest in behavioural problems, and their relation to general health. To relax she enjoys badminton and does awesome things on a trampoline.
Ben Dart
The most recent local recruit. He started cattle work at 3 years old, just surviving to school age. Ben has a keen interest in all aspects of farm work including lameness and foot trimming - he still has a young back!
Bridget Goscombe, Mike Davey and Paul Rossiter form our TB testing team.
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