Meet Our Team

Mark qualified from Cambridge University in 1987 and has worked in Veterinary Practices in the South West since then. He joined Castle Veterinary Group as a mixed vet in 2004, becoming a partner in the business in 2006. Mark has worked solely as a Small Animal Vet for the last 10 years and has gained a loyal following of clients over this time. His main interest is in surgery, he has a wealth of knowledge and skill and is able to perform many orthopaedic procedures such as fracture and cruciate ligament repairs. Mark is currently nearing completion of a postgraduate qualification in Surgery, following 2 years of study. He lives with his family and many pets in Tavistock.

Claire Waters – Claire qualified from the Royal Veterinary College in 1994 and spent 18 years working in mixed and then small animal practices in the South East. She moved with her family to Cornwall in 2012 to join Castle Veterinary Group and became a partner in the business shortly after. Claire enjoys all aspects of medicine and surgery, especially dentistry and ophthalmology. She loves chickens and has become the ‘go to’ person for Backyard Chickens in the practice. When not at work, she enjoys being outdoors in the beautiful Cornish countryside, cycling or walking with her Lab crosses, Peanut and Roobarb.

Tabi joined the practice in April 2018 from a predominantly small animal practice in Exeter. Prior to this she spent several years working as a locum in a large variety of practices across the south west. She enjoys all aspects of first opinion practice and has a particular interest in veterinary acupuncture. Outside of work, Tabi enjoys sea swimming, yoga, attempting to grow vegetables and getting out and about with her two dogs.

Laura qualified from Bristol Veterinary University in July 2019 and joined the Castle Vets team as a mixed practice vet in September 2019.

Jenny graduated from the University of Bristol in 2010. Originally from Dorset, she has worked in small animal practice in the South West since
graduating. Although she is a true general practitioner, Jenny has an interest in canine and feline medicine. In 2019 she gained a Certificate in Small Animal Medicine, achieving a distinction. Following this, Jenny became an RCVS Recognised Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Medicine.
Jenny is a lover of the countryside and all things outdoors. She moved to Cornwall in December 2020, along with her boyfriend Andy (also a vet) and smiley English Springer Spaniel Reuben. They enjoy lots of walks together!

Katie joined Castle Vets as a mixed vet in August 2018 having graduated from Cambridge in June. Katie has since given up mixed practice and is now just working as a small animal vet.

Outside of work, Katie’s hobbies include walking, kayaking and cooking. She is new to Cornwall and is enjoying spending the weekends exploring the area with her husband and friends.

Jackie joined the practice as a small animal vet in August 2021. Jackie graduated from the RVC in 1982 and moved from East Sussex to Cornwall in May 2021 with her husband, 2 Flat-coated Retrievers and 2 horses. Jackie enjoys all aspects of small animal medicine.

Chloe graduated from Bristol University in 2020 and began her career at a busy practice in Leeds before moving to Cornwall with her cat Panda, who she adopted from Cats Protection. Chloe hails from Somerset and enjoy spending time outdoors. She joined the practice as a small animal vet in October 2021

Christiane moved to the UK from Germany 15 years ago. After spending time in Somerset she moved to Cornwall 3 years ago with her 2 children, 2 cats, German Shorthaired Pointer and 14 chickens! She enjoys spending time outside walking and gardening in her free time.

Howard graduated from the University of Bristol in 2017 and has worked as a small animal vet in the UK and New Zealand since then. He joined Castle Vets in August after moving to Cornwall in June 2022 with his girlfriend to enjoy the outdoor lifestyle and to get better at surfing! Outside of work he enjoys cooking, playing football, hiking, surfing, and skiing.

Donna graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2004, having worked as a contract shepherd, among other things. She went into mixed equine and companion animal practice in Wiltshire and the surrounding areas and opened her own practice in Gloucestershire, before combining veterinary locuming with medical and veterinary writing.

Donna moved back to the South West in 2021 with her husband, also a vet, two children, horses, dog, cat and small pets. Donna would describe herself as a GP who enjoys all aspects of practice. Out of work, she is usually busy with horses and ferrying the boys to rugby matches. When time allows, she’s a keen artist and metal detectorist.

Erica joined Castle Vets in August 2022 as our Head Nurse for maternity cover. She qualified in 2008 at a large, small animal practice in Reading. In 2009 she moved back home to Cornwall where she spent 13 years at a mixed practice that became a small animal only practice in Liskeard. She enjoys all aspects of veterinary nursing but has a keen interest in medicine, imaging and all things cats! In her spare time, she loves walking and wild camping.

Naomi joined Castle Vets in 2012 as a Student Veterinary Nurse and went on to qualify as a Registered Veterinary Nurse in 2015. She has since spent a year traveling around Australia and worked at a charity vet in the Cook Islands. Naomi enjoys all aspects of nursing but has a particular interest in farm animals and often joins our large animal vets out on farm, blood sampling cattle.

Emma joined our nursing team in September 2005 and having completed her Animal Nursing Assistant course she then went on to train as a Veterinary Nurse. Emma passed all her exams early in 2012 and is now a fully qualified Veterinary Nurse.

Emma enjoys helping out with our puppy preschool and has a keen interest in animal behaviour running many of our anxious dog clinics.

Emma has two cats, Hettie and Hamish. Hamish was hand reared by Emma from one day old after he was attacked by a dog and brought into the surgery.

Emma’s main interests include spending time with her daughter Georgia, son Elliott and husband Steve on the farm.

Debs qualified in January 1991 and has worked in practices in both the private and charity sector in Hampshire, Sussex and London. She has an assessor qualification for training student nurses, a Foundation Degree in Behaviour & Training, and is a Life Skills for Dogs instructor and ProDog Trainer. Her particular intetests are reducing stress for animals in veterinary environments and helping clients to understand and improve their relationships with their pets.

She moved to Cornwall in 2010. Debs collection of geriatric animals at home include a horse, a golden retriever and two cats – one of which only has 3 legs! Outside of work, Debs loves walking, geocaching, scrapbooking, attempting to play the mandolin and camping with her husband in one of their extensive collection of classic Volkswagens.

Claire re-joined the practice in February 2011. Using all of her experience and knowledge she soon became an invaluable member of staff and was made Deputy Head Nurse in September 2011 and was promoted to Head Nurse in 2013. After taking time off with the birth of her baby James at the end of 2015 she has returned to work with us part-time.

Claire married a local farmer in 2014 and they were given a Charolais cow and calf as a wedding present! Claire and her husband also breed pedigree Blue Faced Leicester sheep. Her other interests include baking and decorating cakes and we enjoy sampling her creations!

Loren joined Castle Veterinary Group in 2004 and qualified as a Veterinary Nurse in 2009. She was promoted to the role of Head Nurse at the end of 2015.<br />

Loren completed her Clinical Coach qualification in March 2014 and now assists our student Veterinary Nurses with their training.

Loren has also completed a bereavement course and is a registered Ally Supporter. She is here to help our clients before, during and after the loss of their pet.

In her spare time Loren enjoys walking her dogs Bessie the Collie Cross and Peggy the Jack Russell.

Sue qualified as a Veterinary Nurse in 1979 and has since worked in practices in Hythe (Hants), Barnstaple and Lifton prior to starting at Castle Veterinary Group in 2003.

Sue is a registered Ally Supporter. An Ally Supporter offers support before, during and after the loss of a pet.

Sue’s main nursing interests are in the areas of surgical nursing and animal behaviour.

Sue has a lot of animals – a dog called Perrier, several cats all rescued via Cats Protection.

In addition to her Veterinary Nursing work, Sue is also involved with the Launceston branch of Cats Protection and enjoys walking Perrier in her free time.

Megan joined our nursing team in 2017. She qualified as a RVN in 2007. Since then she has worked around the UK and spent three and a half years working at a veterinary hospital in Sydney, which is where she met her partner Declan. They then moved to Ireland in 2015. Her keen interests are weight clinics, dentistry and surgical nursing. She has now settled back in Cornwall and is enjoying life with her new husband.

Emma joined our nursing team in August 2015. She completed her studies with us and qualified as a registered veterinary nurse in January 2018.

Outside work she enjoys swimming, walking her Staffie Millie, and a spot of baking when she has time!

Gemma joined our veterinary nursing team in January 2012. She became our acting head nurse when Loren Jackson went onto maternity leave in January 2018.

She has an interest in behaviour, running many of our anxious dog clinics and is a qualified Clinical Coach assisting in the training of our student Veterinary Nurses.

Gemma’s interest include surfing, making cakes and walking her Labrador Lottie.

Tanya is a registered veterinary nurse. Tanya started her training here in 2012, qualified in 2015 and moved on in 2016 to work and live with her partner Glenn, in Exeter. Tanya worked as lead orthopaedic nurse at St Davids Veterinary Hospital, up until the birth of her first Daughter, Rosalie in April 2019. Tanya and her family have since moved back down to Cornwall to be with family and came back to join us part time in January 2020. Tanya has Bella, the border collie and her two cats, Riley and Milo at home and has a keen interest in walking, running and cooking yummy food!

Olivia qualified as a nurse in 2016 and joined the team at Castle Vets in 2022. She enjoys all aspects of nursing, particularly surgical nursing. Olivia lives on a farm with her 5 dogs and 2 cats, and in her spare time enjoys baking and walks along the coast.

Jade joined the practice in May 2022. She has worked in vet practices for nearly 7 years as a qualified registered veterinary nurse but has worked within veterinary practices since she was at school. Jade enjoys all parts of the job but has an interest in anaesthetic and emergency care.

Outside of work, Jade’s time is occupied by four dogs, two poodle crosses and two sausage dogs, going out and exploring the countryside.

Bethany qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2019 with a BSC (hons) degree from Hartpury university and she joined the practice in 2022. Bethany enjoys all aspects of nursing and aspires to complete further certificates to build on her career.

In her spare time, she enjoys exercising, walking her two dogs and spending time with friends and family.

Kim joined the Castle Vets team in August 2022 as our new kennel assistant, a role which involves supporting our nursing team as they care for your pets. Kim loves spending time with her two dogs, Cleo and Luna, when she is not working.

Jenny joined our nursing team in July 2019. She started her Veterinary Nurse career in 2004 in Weymouth, Dorset. She then moved to Cornwall in 2006 where she worked at a large practice and trained. Upon qualifying she moved to Devon and worked in a busy Veterinary hospital, after maternity leave she decided to have a career change and for the last two years she has been lecturing Animal management/nursing alongside a foundation degree in teaching at a FE college in Barnstaple.

Her keen interests in Vet Nursing are; Feline behaviour, radiography and Nurse clinics.

In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her 2 young children, along with all their pets which include 2 whippets, 3 cats and a cornsnake.

Sophie joined the nursing team in August 2021. She has worked within veterinary practices in Cornwall since qualifying in 2012 from the Royal Veterinary College. She has a keen interest in nurse clinics.

In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her husband and two labradors, going on walks along the coast and exploring more of Cornwall.

Pam joined the team at Castle Vets in August 2022. She lives with her two fluffy boys, Snooky and Crypto. In her spare time, she enjoys playing and walking with them and their buddies. Pam moved to Cornwall 6 years ago after a short time travelling around Asia, volunteering at various animal rescues. Animal welfare is a huge passion, and Pam hopes to study veterinary nursing in the near future.

Charlotte qualified as a Veterinary Nurse in January 2017 and joined the castle nursing team in January 2018. In her free time Charlotte enjoys gig rowing and horse riding.

Jess joined the team in 2016 as a small animal ward assistant and after 5 years has started her veterinary nurse training.

In her spare time she enjoys playing rugby, walking her dog Stan, and is an active memeber of Launceston Young Farmers Club.

Rachael joined Castle Vets in August 2016 having already been a qualified veterinary nurse since 1999. Having had a break to raise her twin girls she has returned to work part time here at Castle Vets.

Rachael lives with her partner on their dairy farm. The twins take up most of Rachael’s spare time but she also has some chickens and 3 cats that she has rescued over the years!

Erin started at Castle vets in 2021 as an assistant to the nurses and then started her veterinary nurse training in 2022. In her spare time, she enjoys walking her 3 dogs Meg, Macey and Bonnie.

Tammy relocated to Devon from the South East in June 2007 with her son, Olly and her pets.

Tammy’s interests outside of work are looking after her horses, a massive Shire and a Clydesdale. She is also a keen walker and enjoys walking her dogs either on the moors or the coastline.

In her spare time (when she is not working at festivals) Carmen loves to spend time with her family, going to the beach, eating out and growing her plant collection.

Amiee joined Castle Vets in January. In her spare time, she is kept busy looking after her son, cat and puppy. She enjoys walking, running and spending time by the sea.

Karen joined the accounts team in July 2022. Karen has recently relocated to the area and likes nothing more than exploring the countryside. She is also a massive Southampton football supporter and a recent follower of the Cornish All Blacks.

Sue joined in July 2022 as our Accounts Assistant. In her spare time, Sue enjoys hiking on the moors with her husband and rescue spaniel Hendrix, sometimes wild camping along the way. She also tries to get away in the UK as often as possible in their self-built campervan.

Gardening, DIY and crafts are also on her list of hobbies to keep her busy.

Rachel joined Castle Vets is 2018 as our Small Animal Team Leader. Previously, she has worked as a qualified veterinary nurse in both general practice and referral before relocating to the South West with her family. She enjoys getting outside on the local coastal walks, along with her Cocker Spaniel, Maine Coon cat and Hare!

Hannah joined our small animal reception team in December 2016.

Hannah has a dog and four cats. In her spare time, she enjoys long walks with her dog and her non-animal hobbies include yoga and crafts.

Ellis joined the small animal reception team in July 2019. She is an experienced veterinary receptionist who lives locally with her family, two horses, a goat, a cat and a dog called Lollie.

Gill joined the small animal reception team in September 2021 after relocating to Cornwall from Sussex where she previously worked as a veterinary receptionist for 16 years.

Along with her husband, Gill enjoys looking after her small flock of Devon and Cornwall Longwool sheep, 2 dogs, chickens, tortoise and future plans to add pigs to their collection too.

Hannah joined the Castle Vets team as our Liskeard branch receptionist in January 2024.

Hannah was brought up in in Northamptonshire and attended Moulton Agricultural College where she studied for her diploma in animal care. She relocated to Cornwall in 2001. She has 2 children, 1 cat, 1 chicken, a rabbit and a guinea pig.

Elaine joined the small animal reception team in September 2021. She has recently moved to the South West with her husband, daughter and 3 Italian Spinones. She enjoys walking, running and baking in her free time.

Sarah joined the Castle Vets small animal reception team in May 2018. Sarah was a student veterinary nurse with us before she left to start a family and now her son has grown up she has returned to Castle Vets and is enjoying a different side of working within the veterinary world.

Outside of work Sarah is kept busy looking after her family, helping her partner on the farm, managing their holiday cottages and making handcrafted jewellery. In her free time she enjoys caring for all her animals, riding her horses and watching her son play football.

Yvonne joined the team at Castle Vets in 2022 after relocating to a small farm in Devon in 2011 with her husband, daughter, two Vizla dogs and some bantam chickens. She spends her days with her sheep, chickens, ducks and turkeys.

Jackie joined us in September 2016 as a small animal receptionist but will also be found helping out on our farm reception too. Jackie is experienced at working within veterinary practice as she has been a small animal receptionist for many years. She tells us she is loving being part of the Castle Vets family and enjoying the challenge of learning farm reception duties!

Jackie moved to the Launceston area from Surrey earlier this year with her husband and three dogs, a 9 year old Great Dane and two young Lurchers. She loves participating in all canine sports, particularly flyball, heel work to music and general obedience.

Jackie is currently trying out a new hobby – hoping to become and adequate gardener! She also loves spending lots of time at local beaches and beauty spots, and is wondering why she didn’t move “down west” years ago!

Abbie joined the practice in February. She has worked as a veterinary receptionist for over a year.

She has one soppy cat called Bravo who is a rescue and one crazy Staffy called Bonnie. In her spare time, she enjoys walking the dog down the beach and socialising with friends.

Beth joined the team at Castle Vets in 2022, helping the small animal nursing team. She enjoys helping out on her family farm, and spending time with her six dogs.

Lilly joined the small animal team assisting the nurses in 2021. Lilly lives on her family farm with her dog Loco. She also has her own flock of sheep. When she isn’t helping out on the farm, she enjoys playing rugby & cricket.

Katie joined Castle Vets in December. When she is not working she loves spending time with her two dogs, Oggy & Nook.

Jeff joined us in April 2018 and has been keeping himself very busy sprucing up the car park and fixing things around the building! You may also see him out on farm from time to time as he is called upon to deliver medicines and equipment to our vets on farm visits.

Laura joined our farm team as a part-time receptionist in August 2017. She has since then taken on the role as practice cleaner in April 2020.

She previously studied at Sparsholt Agricultural College and has lots of receptionist experience, so she is a great addition to our existing team.

Outside of work, Laura is kept very busy looking after her two children, Border Collie, rabbit and guinea pig!

Lezley joined the practice in June after a long period of being a stay-at-home mum to her two daughters.

Lezley loves all kinds of animals especially dogs and cats and they have been a huge part of her life from an early age.

When she is not working, Lezley enjoys spending time with her husband and daughters, taking their lovable Labrador Ty out to explore the coast and countryside.