Elizabeth (Libby) Smith BVetMed MRCVS graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 1994. She immediately came to work at the practice for Mrs Helen Papworth as the practice offered the perfect balance of small animal and equine work.

She bought the practice in May 2002 to become the sole owner as Helen made the decision to semi-retire. She continues to enjoy the role of a general practitioner, but has particular interest in equine medicine, small animal soft tissue surgery and rabbit medicine and surgery. She is married to Paul and lives locally with their son and daughter, Cooper the Boxer, Peanut the 3-legged Chihuahua and not-very-imaginatively-named Puss-Cat!

Farah Stones (nee Malik) BVSc MRCVS, Clinical Director, qualified from Liverpool University in 1995. She spent 3 years in mixed practice before working in mixed practice in Australia. She then returned to the UK to travel and had various locum positions before settling in small animal practice locally.

She started with us part time in October 2005 but became full time shortly afterwards. She lives with her family in Stevenage and is particularly interested in small animal soft tissue surgery.

Mark Hatcher MA VetMB MRCVS graduated from Cambridge University in 1999 and has enjoyed working at the practice ever since. He has a particular interest in small animal trauma and orthopaedics.

He is Head Veterinary Surgeon and his other more unusual areas of interest include exotics and bat surgery! He currently helps his son care for their corn snake and a tortoise called Psycho!

Vanessa Prior BVsc MRCVS graduated from Liverpool University in 2005. She started with us in December 2008 after having previously worked in two small animal practices.

She has a horse and two rescue guinea pigs! Her particular interests include 'small furries', small animal surgery and has qualified to perform acupuncture. She enjoys walking and riding.

Vanessa is currently on maternity leave.

Celia Reynolds BVM&S MRCVS qualified from Edinburgh University in 2016 and came to work with us immediatey. She really enjoys the variety of internal medicine and surgery that general practice brings. She enjoys lots of sports including hockey and tennis. She lives locally with her boyfriend and although she doesn't currently own any pets she is keen to get a puppy!

Vanessa Santos DVM MRCVS, comes from Portugal and qualified from the University of Lisbon in 2016. Her studies included time at the small animal hospital in Portugal, the National Guarded Police Equine Hospital and placements in Gent and Sweden. Afer qualifying she moved to England to start an internship at a practice in Kent doing mixed practice for four months before starting with us in 2017. She enjoys riding, running, going to music festivals and meeting friends. She also loves surfing which is a little difficult to enjoy in Bedfordshire!

Dan West BVetMed MRCVS, joined us in 2017. He graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in London in 2015 and spent two years working in a small animal practice in Northamptonshire before re locating. He particulay enjoys imaging and operating.

In his free time he likes to play hockey, run and play the guitar. He lives locally with his cat called Luna.

Fran Tomlinson BA VetMB MRCVS graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2018 and joined us straight away. She enjoys the diversity of cases in first opinion practice and is particularly interested in small animal medicine.

Outside work she likes to play tennis, practice yoga, learn new languages and travel. She came from Birmingham originally and enjoys returning home to see family and her Cockapoo Pippa. She is now living more locally and is looking forward to getting a cat or dog of her own.