Meet The Team

It seems that almost everyone knows me, Clinical Director and vet as “Uncle Tim”! I consult and operate at Hexham for most of the week, with a weekly session at our Bellingham centre. I graduated way back in 1988 from the University of Glasgow Veterinary School, just a few years behind “James Herriot” or, real name, Alf Wight. I attained a Masters Degree in Veterinary Medicine in 1989 for work treating arthritis in dogs before I started work in general practice. I worked in the North East, London and in a referral veterinary hospital in Harrogate before I decided that I wanted to start my own practice back in Northumberland. My vision was to create a dedicated pet animal practice which had the friendliness and personal touch of a small practice, but which also kept clinical standards and levels of care and facilities which could rival larger hospitals. I opened Orchard House in Hexham in 1998. That first day I had two clients. The practice now has around 10,000 registered clients and employs 20 staff over our three branches, but we have remained small enough to care. My wife, Cath, is a teacher. Cath and my two daughters see more of me on evenings and weekends than in the early years when I was on duty 24/7.

We have a slightly mad Border Collie called Drum and a mischievous cat called Bernard.

Born and bred in Northumberland, I graduated from Nottingham in 2016 and have spent the last 4 years in mixed practice in Cumbria. 

In my spare time I enjoy archery, watching rugby and going for long hikes in the mountains (or at least being dragged up them by Ned the German Pointer).

I qualified in 1998 and started work in mixed practice for about 6 years , working with high herd health specific pathogen-free pigs , cattle , sheep , goats ,alpacas and horses to name a few .

I subsequently moved into purely small animal practice and over the years have worked in various small animal practices up and down the country. Whilst working in an emergency veterinary hospital, (taking out-of-hours calls for a large surrounding area) I developed an eye referral service , and gained my GpCertificate in Veterinary Ophthalmology in 2013.

I previously worked for Uncle Tim at OHVC 7 years ago, and loving it so much have returned ! It is so great to be part of the team again and meeting some of my previous clients has been wonderful. Outside work I spend a lot of time running after my children , who are usually running after the cat (beautiful Tilly, pictured) . Thankfully she is very light on her feet!

My name is Sofia, and I’m originally from Corfu. I’m bilingual, as my mum is from Ambleside, which explains my somewhat puzzling accent! I’ve now been in the UK for almost 12 years, having first moved here to study for my Sixth Form and A levels. In 2017, I began my dream degree at the University of Liverpool, graduating in 2022.

Since then, I’ve spent the past three and a half years working in a busy first opinion and referral practice in Lancaster. During this time, I’ve focused on developing my diagnostic skills, refining my consultation style, and gaining experience in routine surgical procedures.

I’m truly excited to be joining the Orchard House team and look forward to supporting the local community and caring for your beloved pets.