Meet our Team
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Dr Olivia Ridgway
Senior Veterinary Surgeon
BVSc MRCVSOlivia qualified in 2018 from the University of Liverpool and worked in a busy small animal practice in Cheshire before joining the Willows group in June 2020 at our Alsager branch. Olivia then made the switch to join the Winsford team in September 2021.
Olivia is particularly passionate about internal medicine, and is undertaking advanced training in this area with a Post graduate Certificate in Small Animal Internal Medicine.
Olivia’s favourite thing about being a vet is meeting so many wonderful animals and their owners. In her spare time, Olivia enjoys reading, gardening, being bossed around by her cat Molly and long walks with her loopy Labrador Nova!
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Dr Kajal Chopra
Veterinary Surgeon
BVM&S MRCVSKajal qualified in 2022 from the University of Edinburgh and has been working in busy small animal practice, before joining the team at Winsford Veterinary Surgery in June 2024. Kajal has a keen interest in emergency and critical care, soft tissue surgery and has a particular love for feline patients.
Kajal’s favourite thing about being a vet is working with a close, supportive team and getting to know her long term clients. In her spare time, Kajal enjoys reading, cooking and also pole dancing classes, which she also competes in. Kajal has a lovely corgi called Frodo who lives with her parents in Malaysia.
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Mr Bruce Waddell
Veterinary Surgeon
BVMS MRCVSBruce qualified in 1996 from the University of Glasgow, and spent 5 years in mixed practice looking after large and small animals in Suffolk. In 2001, Bruce joined the Willows Veterinary Group, and in March 2024 joined the team at Winsford. Bruce loves all areas of first opinion practice, especially building relationships with pets and their owners. In his spare time, Bruce is kept busy running round after his two sons, walking the dog and practicing Judo, a sport he has enjoyed since he was 7 years old! Bruce has a wide array of pets including one labrador, three cats, one leopard gecko, 2 horses and a Shetland pony!
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Dr Sophie Simons
Veterinary Surgeon
BVM&S MRCVSSophie graduated in 2024 from the University of Edinburgh. She joined the team at Winsford Veterinary Surgery in September 2024, where she is enjoying developing her knowledge and skills. Sophie enjoys all aspects of Veterinary but is particularly interested in dermatology, neurology, surgery and behavioural cases. Sophie’s favourite part about being a vet is building relationships with clients and their pets. She is also a big fan of cuddles with puppies and kittens! In her spare time, Sophie enjoys climbing, art, photography and spending time with her boyfriend and his lovely cats Jiggy and Burt
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Alexandra Mollart
Practice Manager
Alex graduated as a Registered Veterinary Nurse at Bottle Green Training in 2016. She trained at a Referral Hospital in Staffordshire. Alex then became a Head Veterinary Nurse at a practice in Newcastle-Under-Lyme, eventually becoming a Regional Manager for a large veterinary group.
After taking some time away from work to start a family, Alex joined the Winsford team in September 2022. Alexs passionate about empowering her team to be the best that they can be, as well as encouraging the team to provide a gold standard of care to our clients, patients and each other.
Outside of work Alex is a qualified Dance teacher and also enjoys baking and spending time with her family.
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Louise Hodnett
Head Veterinary Nurse
BSc (Hons) RVNLouise graduated from Myerscough college with an Honours degree in Veterinary Nursing in 2014. She trained at a first opinion practice in Newcastle under Lyme and then spent several years there as an RVN. Louise then became Patient Care Nurse at the Small Animal Teaching Hospital in Liverpool. She developed lots of skills working with referral cases which included nursing patients in the intensive care unit.
Louise joined the team at Winsford as an RVN in 2017 and took over as Head Nurse in November 2020. Louise’s main interests are emergency and critical care nursing, diagnostic imaging and helping to support the training of student nurses.
Outside of work, Louise enjoys baking, reading and going out for walks with her mischievous Beagle Harley!
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Rebecca Cooper
Registered Veterinary Nurse
RVNA1 Cert CFVH NutBecky joined the team at Winsford Veterinary Surgery in 2021, bringing with her a great deal of nursing experience. Becky has been qualified for over 15 years and has undertaken further training with certificates in Nutrition and Canine and Feline Dentistry.
Becky has a keen interest in nutrition and loves to help owners transition their pets onto the right diet for certain conditions, weight management and growth.
In her spare time, Becky is a keen gardener and loves nothing more than snuggling up with her family and 2 cats, Frankie and Mischief.
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Rebecca Green
Registered Veterinary Nurse
RVN APVN (Small Mammals)Rebecca joined the Willows Veterinary Group in 2015 as an auxillary nurse at our Lymm branch and started her nursing training in 2017 at Station House. Rebecca qualified in 2020 then spent a year as an Out of Hours Nurse at the Willows Veterinary Hospital in Hartford before returning to day work at Station House. Rebecca then joined the team at Winsford Veterinary Surgery in June 2024.
Rebecca has achieved a certificate in Small Mammals and is a qualified clinical coach with a passion for teaching budding nurses.
Rebecca spends her free time looking after her young family and her menagerie of pets with 3 cats, 2 horses, 5 chinchillas, 1 guinea pig and a tortoise.
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Faith Oliver
Student Veterinary Nurse
Faith completed her Veterinary Care Assistant course at Reeseheath College in 2020 and is now undertaking her Veterinary Nursing qualification.
Faith is very interested in anaesthesia and inpatient care.
In her spare time, Faith enjoys reading and watching animal programmes with her 2 rescue cats Princess and Porsche.
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Samantha Ikin
Veterinary Care Assistant
Sam started working St Winsford Veterinary Surgery in 2008, and passed her Animal Nursing Assistant qualification in April 2013.
Sam’s favourite part of the job is inpatient care, especially our more unusual and exotic patients! Sam also has a keen interest in Animal Behaviour, and is hoping to undertake more study in this area in the future.
Outside if work, Sam loves spending time with her family and gardening, as well as having lots of cuddles with her cat Bentley, labrador Raven and 2 guinea pigs Bean and Pumpkin.
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Katie Garstang
Veterinary Care Assistant
Katie has over 16 years experience as a veterinary care assistant, joining the Willows Veterinary Group in 2010. Katie has always loved working with animals and spent several years farming and working with racehorses before embarking on a career in the veterinary profession.
Katie’s passions at work are radiography and wound management. In her free time Katie is happiest doing any outdoor activities, but especially farming and horse riding. At home Katie is kept busy by her son and two troublesome Border Terriers, Doris and Rossi.
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Steph Drinkwater
Veterinary Care Assistant
Steph joined the Winsford team at the start of 2021 and completed her Veterinary Care Assistant qualification in March 2024.
Steph loves learning all about veterinary medicine, but her favourite part of her job is supporting the team in the operating theatre.
In her spare time, Steph loves to walk her cockerpoos Dougie and Dottie. Steph also has a lot of experience working with racehorses and loves to go to the races.
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Ebony McKay
Veterinary Care Assistant
C-SQPEbony undertook a Zoology Masters degree at Bangor University, then worked in retail before joining the team at Winsford Veterinary Surgery in August 2024 as a Veterinary Care Assistant.Ebony is interested in exotic patients such as rabbits and reptiles, and enjoys caring for patients when they are in hospital with us. Ebony’s favourite part of her role is meeting all our lovely patients and taking care of them.In her spare time, Ebony enjoys video games, crochet and looking after her mini zoo of pets with 4 cats, 5 rabbits and a room full of reptiles! -
Kimberley Larkin
Receptionist
Kim joined the team in 2017. Animal welfare and care is Kim’s passion, having volunteered at rescues for 20 years.
In work, Kim’s priority is customer care and she loves to go the extra mile for our clients.
In her spare time, Kim enjoys arts and crafts, country walks with the children and foraging. Kim is kept busy by her rescue cat Wobbles, rescue Beagle cross Matilda and her handsome Bullmastiff Gus.
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Katie Skellon
Receptionist
Katie joined the team in January 2022, bringing with her over 7 years of experience in customer service. Katie’s favourite part if working in a Veterinary practice is getting puppy cuddles and seeing all the interesting cases that come through the door!
In her free time, Katie loves long walks with her family dog Alfie Moon, shopping and spending time with her husband, friends and family.
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Susan Owen
Receptionist
Sue joined the team at Winsford Veterinary Surgery in April 2023 for a change of pace after working in cabin crew for 30 years.
Sue has a few favourite things about being a Veterinary Receptionist – she loves the fast paced environment, our close team bond and how every day is different!
In her spare time Sue loves long walks, cooking and weekend breaks.
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Gillian Davies
Receptionist
Gill joined the team at Winsford Veterinary Surgery in March 2024 following a long career working as a Personal Assistant.
She enjoys all aspects of the Receptionist role, especially connecting with the clients and making a big fuss of their pets.
Outside of work Gill loves spending time with her family, countryside walks and travelling.
