Introducing Our Practice Team

Richard qualified from Liverpool in 1989. Initially he was employed in traditional mixed practice until he moved to the Bristol Vet School where he worked for six years. During this time he was awarded a PhD in orthopaedics and obtained the RCVS certification in radiology. He joined Arvonia Vets in 2001. In 2014 he passed the European certification exam in small animal surgery.

His interests are radiology, ultrasonography, ophthalmology, orthopaedic and general surgery. He has a rescue cat, a number of fish and a border terrier called Poppy.

Darran graduated from the University of Liverpool with Richard in 1989. Although Richard and Darran have not worked together until recently, they have been friends throughout university and their careers. Darran says "it's great to be part of such a lovely practice such as Arvonia . Working with excellent caring colleagues, including my long term friend, and now colleague, Richard is extremely rewarding".

Darran now acts as a Veterinary Advisor to VetThing, a brand new and very different locally run group, and is proud that Arvonia was the first and founding practice of the group.

Miriam graduated from the University of Zaragoza in Spain in 2017. Her Scottish connections have contributed to bringing her to the UK. She has a keen interest in feline medicine, diagnostic imaging and eyes (ophthalmology). Miriam is currently enroilled on her 'certificate in ophthalmologly' leading to higher qualifications.

In her spare time she enjoys cooking and going for walks with husband and children.

Emma qualified from the Royal Veterinary College London in 2019. Her main interests are in small animal medicine and CT. Emma knows our CT scanner inside and out! Her focus is further raising the standard of medical care of pets entrusted to our practice.

Jake enjoys working across both the Churchdown and the Reddings sites. His interests are in both Medicine and Surgery with a bias towards surgery. Jake's skills include operation of the CT scanner and he is at home with its complex computer interface.

Jake grew up locally and qualified from University of Bristol in 2022.

Annabel qualified from the University of Bristol and has previously worked in both a farm and small animal practice in South Leicestershire. She has a particular passion for anaesthesia and loves surgery, particularly caesarean sections as she loves to bring new life into the world. Annabel currently completing her 'surgery certicate' qualifications. These are extra qualifications over and above that of a usual vet.

Annabel has a Springer Spaniel named Marco who she loves going on long walks with. She also enjoys swimming and surfing.

Oscar joined the Arvonia team in February 2026 and works across our branches. He enjoys all aspects of small‑animal practice, with particular interests in imaging. Oscar brings strong technical skills to the team and is confident working with advanced diagnostic equipment. Oscar holds additional qualifications in veterinary imaging.

Karen has many years working in the dental industry before moving to the veterinary world. She is committed to client care, making Arvonia run smoothly and to it being a great place to work.

Kirsty completes the team of two practice managers at Arvonia. Kirsty brings a great deal of experience in Veterinary Practices, having managed a large practice for many years. Kirsty is also a Registered Veterinary Nurse.

Avery is a qualified veterinary nurses and works in theatre and looks after our laboratory.

Emily works across our Reddings and Crickmore branches.

Zoe has a love for all animals and really enjoys caring for patients at the practice. She loves all aspects of her job and finds it very rewarding helping animals. In her spare time, she likes to go on walks in the Forest of Dean with her lurcher called Lenny and spending time in the garden with her rescue chickens, Fifi and Posey. Zoe is also highly competent in operating the CT scanner.

Nikki qualified in 2010 as an RVN. She joins the team bringing lots of experience especially in training nursing students which she thoroughly enjoys as well as nurse clinics.

She enjoys travelling, long walks in the Cotswolds and has a cat called Harry who she imported from Australia when she worked there for 4 years.

Olivia has many years experience working in veterinary practice with a wide skillset. She is a valuable team member at Arvonia and is just starting her RVN training.

Abbie is currently studying to be a fully qualified RVN, she is gaining training and valuable experience at our Reddings site where she has become a valuable team member.

Lily joined the team as a Student Veterinary Nurse and is currently completing her training to become a Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN). She is passionate about providing compassionate, high-quality care to every patient and enjoys developing her clinical skills while supporting both the veterinary team and pet owners.

She looks forward to qualifying as an RVN and continuing to expand her knowledge and experience within the profession.

Andrea joined the team in October 2021 after working in a bank for 22 years! She has a rescue dog from Bosnia called Blue & enjoys gardening during her time off

Brought up in the beautiful Cotswolds, Beki spent 10 years front of house at a busy hair and beauty salon before making the leap into the veterinary world in 2008. Since then, she’s worked as a RAMA (Registered Animal Medicines Advisor) for a decade, and handled all pet insurance claims and queries, and now brings her experience and energy to Arvonia.

She’s been around dogs and horses all her life and has a genuine passion for animals and the people who love them. Her role is all about making sure clients feel welcome, supported, and looked after — while the vets focus on caring for their pets. Known for her dedication and drive, she’s someone who always gives 110%.

Lucy joined us in 2022. She loves to cook & bake and regularly treats the team. She loves to spend time on the coast going for walks with her husband. She has two old Jack Rusell’s called Sydney & Percy and would love to give a good home to a rescue dog in the future!

Charlie joined the Arvonia team in November 25. With a background in hairdressing and years of experience delivering top-notch client care, Charlie brings a friendly, attentive presence to our front-of-house team. Her love for animals and genuine interest in supporting their owners made the move to veterinary care a natural next step.

Whether she’s welcoming you at reception or helping your visit run smoothly, Charlie’s calm and caring approach ensures both pets and people feel right at home.

Leah joined our team in spring 2026 as a veterinary receptionist, bringing with her eight years of experience in the veterinary field. Her background has given her a strong understanding of both patient care and client support, making her a valuable first point of contact for our practice.

Outside of work, Leah is a busy mum to three children and enjoys spending quality time with her family. She also has a creative side, with a passion for photography, and an interest in holistic wellbeing through her practice of reiki. Her warm, caring nature and well-rounded experience make her a wonderful addition to our team.

Chelsea works on reception and with the animals at our Gloucester Road site in Cheltenham. Chelsea has completed a Level 2 Diploma for Veterinary Care Assistants.

Laura works at our Gloucester Road site on both reception and with caring for pets behind the scenes. Laura has completed a Level 2 Diploma for Veterinary Care Assistants.

Sian is a familiar and popular face at our Gloucester Road site both in reception and behind the scenes looking after pets. Sian has completed a Level 2 Diploma for Veterinary Care Assistants.