In staff news, we saw Heather become a qualified Veterinary Nurse in April following two years of study at Plumpton College alongside work. A very well deserved congratulations, Heather! We have increased our vet team to coincide with the branch opening. Gabriella joins us having worked in a busy East London practice for 18 months. Originally from Tunbridge Wells, Gabriella undertook placements with us during her time at the RVC and we are delighted to welcome her back. She enjoys all aspects of small animal practice but has a particular interest in feline medicine. She has two rescue cats - a Birman called Jazz and a Ragdoll called Sammy. Finally, thank you for your continued patience regarding outdoor consultations. At the time of writing we are still unable to open our Southborough building due to so many staff (a number still unvaccinated) working within close confines. We are continually reviewing the situation and hope to offer a normal service as soon as possible.

To assist with our expansion and to ensure that you are able to get through on the phone more easily, we have now installed a very exciting new telephone system. We are pleased with the improved clarity this has brought to the line as well as the ability to answer calls more quickly. The staff have adjusted admirably to all the new buttons and protocols!

In staff news, we welcomed vet Sarah back from maternity leave at the end of last year. New to the receptionist team is Paige who will become our Pembury receptionist when we open. Paige is very experienced in reception work and has joined us having worked previously at Well House vets. She has fitted in wonderfully to the Dacre House ethos and is a pleasure to have on the team.

Finally, we hope you like our smart new dutch canopies - hopefully a better rainproof addition as we
all spend so much time outdoors. Thank you for your ongoing patience with being seen outside especially in the cold, rain and snow! We’re certainly glad to see the Spring and the hope of a gradual return to normality.

New to the receptionist team is Katie Verell who joined us from another local vets. In her spare time, she volunteers for the Riding for the Disabled and she also rides herself. Louise Stapple joined us in October having been a regular at the clinic. She enjoys spending time with family, cooking, music, going for long walks and has a Westie called Willow. Finally, Tracey Hoskin joined the team part-time in October and is thoroughly enjoying working with us in the local community. Having grown up with dogs Tracey has a soft spot for our canine customers and can sometimes be spotted on the Ridgewaye playing fields entertaining children with her puppet dog, Milo.

Pembury residents will be eager to hear that building work at our new branch is nearing completion and we are looking forward to opening in the new year! Keep an eye on our Facebook page for more up-to-date information www.facebook.com/dacrehousevets.

After an incredible 21 years of service we bade a sad farewell to Bev in July. Bev made the decision to retire from the clinic and is now able to spend more time with her family, especially her baby granddaughter, as well as a little more gardening time. Bev has been a wonderful, friendly face and voice over the phone to many of you over the years and will be much missed by staff and clients alike. We wish her all the very best for her retirement. We are delighted to welcome vet Becky Clark back to our team. Having left Dacre House six years ago to go travelling, she has worked at various practices in Kent since. At home Becky has Edie the staffie (a resuce from Dacre House during her first period working here) and two cats. When note at work her two young daughters and much time spent renovating the house keep her busy, as well as managing a blog for a charity advocating for people with Down Syndrome. Judith Shaw joined the team permanently in July having been working as maternity cover for Liz's administration role over the past year. She now joins the reception team as well as continuing to do a few hours in the office. We welcomes Beth Taylor to our nursing team in July, who joins us from Pennard Vets in Sevenoaks. Beth particularly loves working with dogs but also has a soft spot for cats having grown up with them. When not at Dacre House she runs a dog walking and pet sitting business. Finally, some exciting news, we have been granted permission to open a small branch practice on Pembury High Street! Keep an eye on our Facebook page for up-to-date announcements.