Our Team | Ash Tree Veterinary Centre
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Veterinary Surgeons

Bill Besley BVMS Cert SAM MRCVS

Veterinary Surgeon / Director

After graduating in 1993 from Glasgow University Bill has lived and worked in East Anglia ever since.  Pursuing a special interest in veterinary internal medicine Bill gained the RCVS Certificate in Small Animal Medicine in 2002 and continues to follow his passion for helping animals with their often complex medical conditions. Bill founded Ash Tree Vets in 2011 with fellow Director Poppy.

Poppy Tunstill BVetMed(Hons) MRCVS

Veterinary Surgeon / Director

Poppy graduated with honours from the Royal Veterinary College in 2004 and has worked in Suffolk her whole career. She enjoys all areas of veterinary medicine and surgery and has a particular interest in working dogs. Poppy founded Ash Tree Vets in 2011 with fellow Director Bill

Maryrose Mitchell BVM&S MRCVS

Veterinary Surgeon / Associate Partner

Maryrose graduated from Edinburgh University in 2006, and has lived and worked in the Newmarket area ever since. She joined Ash Tree in 2012 and enjoys all aspects of companion animal medicine and surgery, with a particular interest in ophthalmology in cats and dogs.

Tessa Sander BVSc MRCVS

Veterinary Surgeon / Associate Partner

Tessa graduated from Bristol University in 2006 and joined Ash Tree vets in 2012. Tessa enjoys all aspect of companion animal medicine and surgery, with a particular love and interest in caring for our feline patients.

Georgina Jones BVetMed MRCVS

Veterinary Surgeon

Georgina graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2013 and joined Ash Tree Vets in 2015. Georgina is passionate about veterinary soft tissue surgery and has a particular soft spot for our canine friends, especially Setters!

Juliet Harber BVSc MRCVS

Veterinary Surgeon

Juliet graduated from Bristol University in 2016 joined the Ash Tree team in 2020. Juliet is passionate about her profession with a love of all small animals and a special place in her heart for Dachshundsand Cocker Spaniels!

Amanda Davies MA VetMB MRCVS

Veterinary Surgeon

Amanda qualified from Cambridge Veterinary School in 1991, having also completed a degree in Biological Anthropology. Amanda has worked in East Anglia her entire career and joined Ash Tree Vets in 2021, having worked with vets Poppy, Bill and Tessa in a previous practice. Amanda has a keen interest in all aspects of veterinary medicine and surgery and is an avid cat lover.

Natasha Legg BVM BVS MRCVS

Veterinary Surgeon

Tash joined the veterinary team at Ash Tree in 2022 having spent time with us throughout her years at university. She is loving getting to know our clients and is passionate about the care of your pets; and has a soft spot for Labradors!

Shanley Barber DVM MRCVS

Veterinary Surgeon

Shanley graduated from the University of Saskatchewan in Canada in 1999. She has worked in our local area for over 20 years and joined Ash Tree Vets in 2023. Shanley is a brilliant all round veterinary surgeon but does have a keen interest in getting involved in the more complex medical and dermatology cases!

Alice Larwood VetMB MRCVS

Veterinary Surgeon

Alice joined Ash Tree Vets in 2024, having been in practice in East Anglia for over 15 years. Alice lives at home on her dairy farm with her husband and twin boys. She has a particularly interest in imaging and soft tissue surgery.

Veterinary Nurses

Abbey Proctor RVN

Head Nurse

Abbey started her nursing career in 2003 and qualified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse in 2007. She was one of our original team members helping us open the practice in 2011. Abbey has a particular passion for kennel and theatre nursing.

Laura Howe RVN

Deputy Head Nurse

Laura joined the team in 2014 as registered veterinary nurse and also holds an Advanced Diploma in Canine Behaviour Management. As well as her Deputy Head Nursing duties, Laura offers behaviour clinics and advice and is always on hand for any feline or canine behaviour related questions.

Karen Asplen RVN

Veterinary Nurse

Karen began her career in veterinary nursing 2006, joining the Ash Tree team in 2016. Karen has a passion for all aspects of veterinary nursing and client care. She has a particular soft spot for Border Terriers!

Kerry Burns RVN

Veterinary Nurse

Kerry qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2016 from Anglia Ruskin University and the College of West Anglia and joined us shortly after and has been a integral member of our team since. Kerry has a passion for theatre nursing caring for patients admitted to the practice.

Bethany Abrahams RVN

Veterinary Nurse

Having graduated with a degree Marine Biology, Biodiversity and Conservation in 2016, Beth joined the Ash Tree team in the summer of 2018, and went on to qualify as a Veterinary Nurse in the summer of 2021. Beth is passionate about theatre and surgical nursing and is enjoying developing her skills and knowledge further.

Sally Gray RVN

Veterinary Nurse

After qualifying as a veterinary nurse in 2018 at The College of Animal Welfare and joined us in 2021 after relocating from Hertfordshire.
Sally enjoys the huge variety of roles that nursing brings and is keen to continue to expand her knowledge and interest in canine and feline behaviour

Jessica Franklin RVN

Veterinary Nurse

Jess joined the nursing team in 2022. She has a passion for feline care and is involved in training our student nurses and helping them to pass their exams.

Jessica A'Court RVN

Veterinary Nurse

Jess joined the team in 2019 and has just completed her Veterinary Nursing qualification. Jess enjoys travelling, going for long walks, and cooking for friends and family!

Abigail Fryatt RVN

Veterinary Nurse

Abbey joined the team in 2024 having worked locally for the past few years. Abbey is a fantastic addition to the team and especially loves all things Dachshund related!

Maddy Starling SVN

Student Veterinary Nurse

Maddy works tirelessly alongside her studies, helping the vets and nurses to look after all of our patients during their stay with us, as well as conducting some nurse clinics and manning reception. She has always wanted to become a veterinary nurse and joined our team full time in 2021.  Maddy will work with us throughout her apprenticeship to become a registered veterinary nurse.

Sophie Richards SVN

Student Veterinary Nurse

Growing up surrounded by animals, Sophie joined us in the Spring of 2022 and has quickly become an invaluable member of the team. Sophie began her training in early ’23 to become a Veterinary Nurse and is studying hard whilst working at the practice too.

Ellen Broom

Ellen joined the practice in 2023 as an apprentice veterinary nurse, hoping to fulfil her dream of becoming a veterinary nurse. Ellen works alongside the RVNs and vets  helping to look after all of our patients during their stay with us. Alongside working with us, Ellen will study at the Dick White Academy, working towards her Level 3 diploma  veterinary nurse qualification.

Reception

Rachel Moakes SQP

Practice Administrator

Rachel expertly  heads-up our “front of house” team and assists in processing your pets insurance claims. Having joined our team soon after we opened in 2011 she has been with us ever since and travels over 100 miles every day with her three-legged rescue lurcher to do the job that she loves!

Layla Harriman

Head Receptionist

Following a career in the NHS, Layla joined the Ash Tree front of house team in 2017 and now heads up the team alongside Rachel. Layla is a cat lover and has a very soft spot for our feline patients when they visit the practice.

Georgina Payne

Receptionist

Georgina joined the reception team in 2020 and has become an integral part of our team. After over a decade in an equine hospital she has adapted to our smaller furry friends very quickly.

Sam McAulay RVN

Receptionist & Veterinary Nurse

Sam joined our front of house team in 2021. She is an experienced veterinary nurse and is here to answer any queries you may have. Sam is a keen animal lover as the owner of 2 dogs, a cat, a hamster and 2 young children too!

Liana Pennell

Receptionist

Liana joined our reception team in 2023 having worked in other veterinary settings locally. She enjoys meeting all of our lovely clients and cuddling their pets!

David Thulborn

Receptionist

David joined the team in 2024 having previously worked in childcare. They say never work with children or animals so David chose to try both! He is a true animal lover and loves spending time with his Labradoodle Frank!

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