Veterinary Surgeons  

 

Marcus G Harrington BVetMed MRCVS

Marcus was educated at the Colchester Royal Grammar School. He graduated from the Royal Veterinary College, London, in 1981. He worked in farm practice in Wales and Cheshire until he returned to Colchester in 1986. After a year in Australia, he joined what is now Ark Veterinary Centre in 1989, where he has remained ever since.

Marcus has enjoyed membership of Colchester Golf Club, Colchester Rugby Football Club and Colchester FC. He completed the London Marathon 2005 in 4hours 6 minutes, raising £4650 for St. Helena Hospice.

He is Chairman of CRGS Association (the PTA) and West Bergholt and Eight Ash Green Conservative Branch. He was President of the Essex Veterinary Society in 1999/2000.

Marcus is married to Liz and has 3 children, Freddie, Amelia and George and 4 step-children of whom only Edward remains at home.

   
 

Peter Busfield BVetMed MRCVS

Peter graduated from the Royal Veterinary College, London in 1980. He worked in mixed large and small animal practice in Ayrshire, Scotland until moving to Colchester to work for a neighbouring practice in 1985. After spending a year in Australia he joined the Ark in 1993. In 1997 he returned to Australia where he spent 3 1/2 years in small animal practice. In 2001 he finally decided to make a permanent move back to the Ark. Peter is a member of Stoke By Nayland Golf Club. He is Vice-Chairman of the Board of Governers of Stoke by Nayland School. Peter and his partner Nicky have 2 children, Emily and William

     
 

Julie Mair BVM&S MRCVS

Julie joined the Practice in 1999. She comes from Aberdeen and graduated from the Dick Veterinary College, Edinburgh in 1993. Julie spent 3 years in mixed practice in Lincolnshire before working for 2 years in a specialist small animal hospital in Perth, Australia. Julie enjoys dance and scuba diving (NAUI qualified). In January 2007 Julie and her fiancé David became the proud parents of Baby Anna Sienna. Julie is currently on Maternity Leave.

     
 

Elaine Fox MA VetMB BSc MRCVS

Elaine was educated at Ipswich High School and Cambridge University where she qualified in 2005. She worked for a year as a houseman at the Royal Veterinary College, London.

Elaine joined our Practice in 2006. She enjoys skiing, keeping fit and travelling.

     
 

Kate Simm BVSc MRCVS

We are fortunate to find a vet with the experience of Kate to cover Maternity Leave for Julie.

Kate qualified from Glasgow 1n 1995 and has been in small animal practice ever since.

In her spare time she enjoys painting and exercising her lurchers together with her partner Clive.

     
     
 

Practice Manager

Shirley Haxell VN

Shirley is a qualified veterinary nurse who joined the practice in 1985. After several years of nursing Shirley joined the administration staff. Since 1996 Shirley has been Practice Manager and is a member of the Veterinary Practice Management Association.

     
 

Veterinary Nurses.

Susan Larner VN

Sue joined the practice straight from school in 1993. She became fully qualified as a veterinary nurse in 1998 and is now our Head Nurse. Sue is responsible for hospitalised patients and the operating theatre.

 

Laura Deer VN

Laura joined our Practice from school in 1998. She qualified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse in 2002 under Sue’s tutelage. She is now in her second spell at the Ark.

Laura is responsible for weight management clinics and waiting room displays.

Sarah Watts

Sarah has worked extensively with animals including several years at a highly-regarded cattery. Sarah joined the Ark in 2001 and now enjoys what she describes as her best ever job.

Sarah runs our popular weekly Puppy Socialisation Classes.

Laura Maddock

Laura joined our Practice in 2006 from Writtle College. She has progressed quickly, performing procedures she had only imagined before.

 

     
  Receptionists  
 


Kate Affolter

Kate joined the Practice in 1995, having been a client for years, with previous experience in personnel. She is now Head Receptionist with full responsibility for overseeing the implementation of practice policies.

Our other receptionists with their date of joining are:

Linda Horsnell (1997)

Linda has previous receptionist experience and returned to work with us after having a family.

Linda is responsible for account management

Tracey Campbell (1999)

Tracey is a qualified Veterinary Nurse who left her position as Head Nurse in a neighbouring practice to be a receptionist here. She is always happy to help our clients with their insurance claims.

Tracey has just returned from Maternity Leave

Pauline Higgins (2000)

Pauline joined our team from a history in the retail sector. Pauline assists Linda in account management.

Sam Parry (2003)

Sam had plenty of receptionist experience before joining us. She now deals with all the reminders

Kristy Amey (2006)

Kristy is currently on Maternity Leave

Jane Moss (2006)

Jane has been a client for a long time, especially with her Guide Dog Puppies. She is helping out while Tracey and Kristy have been enjoying their Maternity Leave

 

     
  Clipper and Groomers  
 


Emma Harrison

Emma joined our Practice in 2005 with years of experience in Clipping and Grooming. We require our staff to be qualified, so Emma is on day release to Writtle College for City and Guilds qualification