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 two slightly mad Border Collies, Ozzie and Drum (named after Hadrian’s Wall forts).

Having qualified from Glasgow University and settled in Northumberland, I joined the team in 2004 when the practice expanded to Stocksfield. In addition to my general clinical work, I also take acupuncture referrals from other practices. I have recently developed the ‘Cat Friendly Clinic’ scheme across the surgeries, and co-ordinates Orchard House’s membership of the voluntary RCVS Practice Standards accreditation. I was inspired to become a vet by the James Herriot stories, a love of science and the great outdoors.

When not at work I enjoy swimming, cycling, riding my beloved Connemara pony Bertie and walking the slightly wayward Bruce, a Border cross Patterdale (his mother was a patient!). I cannot imagine my life without animals in it, and I firmly believe that the companionship of a happy and healthy pet enriches our lives.

Shona spends her clinical time at Stocksfield, but will travel to Hexham to support with operations when its busy.

She graduated from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Edinburgh in 2001.

Shona worked in mixed practice in South Yorkshire before working in Australia with koalas and wallabies. She returned to the UK to work in practice in north Northumberland and in a Veterinary Hospital in County Durham. She joined the Orchard House family in 2012.

If she sometimes looks tired, it is because she and her husband Simon have two young boys Callum and Euan who don’t appreciate the value of sleep yet… wait until they are teenagers!

Originally from Worcestershire, I graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in London in 2013. Starting out in a busy small animal hospital and mixed practice, I spent the next 3 years treating everything from rabbits to reindeer in the North East. After a stint in small animal practice in the Lake District I returned to the North East and I was delighted to join the Orchard House team in April 2018.

I work mainly between Bellingham and Hexham and in my free time I can normally be found enjoying the beautiful Northumberland landscape with my partner Jack and our bonkers German Pointer, Ned.

Born and bred in Northumberland, I graduated from Nottingham in 2016 and have spent the last 4 years in mixed practice in Cumbria. I have joined the team to cover Rachel’s maternity leave so I’ll be splitting my time between Bellingham and Hexham.

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).

Fiona is originally from Ayrshire and graduated from Edinburgh University in 2012, going on to work for 8 years in mixed practice in Aberdeenshire.

She has just moved to Northumberland with her husband who has started a new job in the area.

She has a fabulous ginger cat called Harry and 4 lovely dogs; a few cocker spaniels and a patterdale terrier.

Outside of work she likes walking the dogs, reading, baking and visiting friends and family.

She will be working across all the practices depending on who is on holiday!

I grew up in Hexham and am very excited to be back in Northumberland; I will be mainly based at Stocksfield and Hexham, but will be covering holiday at all the branches. After graduating from Liverpool University in 2020 I moved to West Yorkshire with my partner and worked at busy small animal hospitals. 

I have 2 cats - Fergus who I rescued after he came in as stray and Fern. As well as 2 horses - Ginger and her daughter Luna.

Outside of work I can usually be found outdoors either schooling my young horse Luna or in the Lake District hiking, open water swimming or rock climbing.