OUR TEAM
Meet the amazing people who make everything happen
at Donnington Grove Small Animal Vets.
We proudly present our vets, nurses, animal nursing assistants and receptionists.
OUR VETS

MARK AMES
BVSc CertVDI CertVOphthal MRCVS
RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Veterinary Ophthalmology
CLINICAL DIRECTOR
I am one of the clinical directors and have worked at Donnington Grove for over twenty years. I run the Thatcham surgery but also sees patients at our Newbury hospital. I am an advanced practitioner in Veterinary Ophthalmology and have a certificate in diagnostic imaging. I have a great interest in all things eye related and accept referrals from other local vets. In my spare time I enjoy playing Lego with my young son, walking with my young spaniel, spending time with my wife.

HANNAH MIRFIN
BVM&S
MRCVS
CLINICAL DIRECTOR
I joined Donnington Grove Vets in 2004. I graduated from Edinburgh University and started off in mixed practice (farm, small animals and horses) before deciding to move to small animals only. I love the variety that comes with a busy small animal practice and enjoy all aspects of consulting, surgery, endoscopy as well as caring for the most poorly hospitalised cases. I am one of the Clinical Directors and work at both our Newbury and Tadley branches. My elderly ginger cat is Otto, who is currently very much enjoying being an only pet and would like to keep things that way!

NICOLE D'MELLO
BVMSci
MRCVS
ASSISTANT
I’m Nicole and I graduated from University of Surrey in 2020. After a brief stint at a small animal practice in Hereford, I joined Donnington Grove Vets in February 2022. I have a keen interest in small animal internal medicine, and I am currently working towards a BSAVA certificate in this area. I particularly like to help patients with diabetes, thyroid disease, immune disorders and more. Outside of work I spend my free time playing Netball, and being kept busy by my 2 dogs, Dumpling and Zoey, and my cat Squid.

KATIE TYLER
BVM BVS
MRCVS
ASSISTANT
I’m Katie and I qualified from Nottingham University in 2014. I then spent 9 years in a small animal, first opinion practice in Sandhurst and joined Donnington Grove in November 2023. My interests include pain management and exotic animal practice. I am currently working towards a certificate in exotic medicine and so I am more than happy to see all kinds of small animals, furry, feathery, or scaly! Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my herd of chinchillas and walking with my best friend Archie, the golden retriever (pictured).

SHAUN FERNELEY
MA VetMB CertSAS MRCVS
RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Surgery
CLINICAL DIRECTOR
I graduated from Cambridge University Vet School in 1995 and I joined the Donnington Grove in 2002 working in both the farm and small animal departments. I gained the RCVS Certificate in Small Animal Surgery in 2006 and am registered as an RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Surgery. My area of interest is all small animal surgery with a more particular interest in orthopaedic surgery. Outside of work I have a Border Terrier, 4 pygmy goats and keep chickens. My spare time is often spent gardening, walking, running, or cycling.

KATHRYN BRAMWELL
BVM&S
MRCVS
ASSISTANT
Hey, I’m Kat. I graduated from the Dick Vet School in Edinburgh in 2015 and I started my veterinary career in the beautiful Lake District before moving back down south to Newbury. I’ve been at Donnington Grove Vets since 2017 and enjoy all aspects of general practice. You can find me at both the Newbury and the Thatcham surgeries. In my spare time I can be found exploring the countryside with my husband, our son and our little cockapoo, Romeo.

DANIELA LOPES
MRCVS
ASSISTANT
Hello! I’m Daniela and I graduated as a veterinarian in the north of Portugal, at the end of 2021. In 2022 I decided to start my clinical experience in England, where I worked for around 2 years in a small clinic in the West Midlands. I joined the Donnington Grove Vets team at the beginning of 2024, wanting to challenge myself and deepen my skills. I have a lovely Labrador Pantera, Luna the cat and Johnny, the rebellious guinea pig. In my free time I love cooking, practicing yoga, writing and finding new cafes and restaurants in the places I visit.

RYAN WALKER
BA VetMB
MRCVS
ASSISTANT
I graduated from the University of Cambridge with degrees in both Zoology and Veterinary Medicine in the summer of 2023 and joined Donnington Grove Veterinary Group soon after. My particular interest lies in anaesthesia and pain relief, as well as exotic and wildlife medicine, which formed the basis of my university research project. Outside of work, I keep myself busy playing sports, recently taking up hockey and swimming, but plan to return to football and taekwondo in the near future.

WILL HODGE
BVSc CertSAS MRCVS
RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Surgery
CLINICAL DIRECTOR
After graduating in 2000 from University of Bristol, I worked in mixed practice before moving to London to focus on small animal surgery. I moved back out to West Berkshire in 2009 and have remained in the area ever since, gaining my RCVS Certificate in Small Animal Surgery in 2011. I love being a GP vet, building relationships with the client and their pets, but surgery is my real interest - whether that be orthopaedics such as joint disease or fractures, or soft tissue surgery such as tumour excision or airway surgery. Outside work, I am active on the hockey pitch.

FRANCES BRATBY
BVM BVS
MRCVS
ASSISTANT
I joined Donnington Grove as an equine vet in 2022 after graduating from Nottingham University. However, I quickly realised that my passion lay working with smaller patients! I enjoy the wide variety of small animal practice including surgery and dentistry. I can be found at both the Newbury and Tadley branches. Outside of work I have an active lifestyle and enjoy swimming, hiking or exploring the countryside with my horse, Blaze. I also spend a lot of time pottery painting and finding new dog friendly pub stops with my golden retriever, Diggory.

TOBIAS MUSSETT
BVSc
MRCVS
ASSISTANT
Hi, I'm Tobias. I grew up in West Sussex and graduated from the University of Bristol in 2023. Soon after graduating I decided to move to Newbury and start my veterinary career here at Donnington Grove where I can further my knowledge and skills. I enjoy all aspects of small animal first opinion work, especially surgical procedures. Outside of work I try to avoid injury in a variety of activities such as horse riding, board sports and working my way around the kitchen.
OUR NURSES

NICOLA BLANEY
RVN A1 NCert(A&CC) MBVNA
HEAD NURSE

JESS GUNN
RVN
SENIOR WARD NURSE

FRANCES COLLIER
RVN
SENIOR TADLEY NURSE

ABBEY HARRIS
RVN
REGISTERED NURSE

RHIANNA THORNTON
SVN
STUDENT NURSE

LUCIE BONE
SVN
STUDENT NURSE

AMY GARLAND
ANIMAL NURSING ASSISTANT

LUCY MAPPLEBECK
RVN MVMA
DEPUTY HEAD NURSE

LISA STEVENS
RVN
SENIOR THATCHAM NURSE

SARAH COBBETT
RVN
REGISTERED NURSE

KELLY ROLFE-JONES
RVN
REGISTERED NURSE

LAUREN PIPER
SVN
STUDENT NURSE

EMILY RIVERA
TRAINEE VETERINARY NURSE

JAS FOSTER
ANIMAL NURSING ASSISTANT

TRACY ORGAN
RVN MBVNA
SENIOR WARD NURSE

MICHELLE NASH
RVN
REGISTERED NURSE

LINDSEY MORRIS
RVN
REGISTERED NURSE

NAOMI TURLEY
RVN
REGISTERED NURSE

JADE WAY
SVN
STUDENT NURSE

LAYNA JEENES
ANIMAL NURSING ASSISTANT

LILY LUND
ANIMAL NURSING ASSISTANT
OUR RECEPTIONISTS

KIM WILSON
HEAD RECEPTIONIST

CHARLOTTE MCLEOD
RECEPTIONIST

DEBORAH SMITH
RECEPTIONIST

SIAN BOWLING
RECEPTIONIST - THATCHAM

HANNAH FARLEY
RECEPTIONIST - THATCHAM

MAY HELYAR
RECEPTIONIST - TADLEY

LINDA CURTIS
SENIOR RECEPTIONIST

KAREN POTTER
RECEPTIONIST

REBECCA WEATHERHEAD
RECEPTIONIST

CAROL MEARS
RECEPTIONIST - THATCHAM

LISA FREEMAN
RECEPTIONIST - TADLEY

HEIDI APPLEBY
RECEPTIONIST

KAREN SYMES
RECEPTIONIST

TRACEY LEACH
SENIOR THATCHAM RECEPTIONIST

CLARE CONWAY
RECEPTIONIST - THATCHAM

CLARE HAYLOCK
RECEPTIONIST - TADLEY