Reception Team

Caroline Wood

Practice Manager & Director

Alongside Jonathan and Lizzy, Caroline is co-director of the practice.

Prior to working at the practice she was employed as a legal secretary in Exeter and then a PA for Devon County Council.

Caroline’s roles are varied but include accounts, queries and staffing, alongside all those paper shuffling jobs behind the scenes, which help the practice run smoothly.

For many years Caroline enjoyed the thrill of horse riding and competing with various horses she has owned. Outside of work Caroline loves spending time with her grandchildren, meeting up with friends and relaxing.

Sadie Bullock

Assistant Practice Manager

Sadie joined us in August 2016, having previously worked in a mixed practice where she qualified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse in 2010.

Now, Sadie is transferring her nursing knowledge and client care skills to be our main Reception co-ordinator. She will be responsible for answering queries, co-ordinating the vet diaries, overseeing TB and farm visits as well as many, many other tasks! She will also maintain her nursing qualification – so all in all, a perfect front of house person.

Sadie grew up on an Exmoor beef and sheep farm so has experience with a range of species and or course the Devon dialect! Her spare time is spent helping her husband on the farm and chasing round after her young children.

Louise Rowson

Receptionist

Louise joined our Reception Team in October 2017. Having always worked in a customer service environment, she had spent the previous 9 years in another mixed veterinary practice, where she gained a wealth of knowledge in both large and small animal care.

Here, Louise has taken on the responsiblity of co-ordinating TB tests and daily farm visits, as well as many other tasks.

Outside of work Louise loves living in the coutryside and enjoys supporting village fundraising events. She also cares for her 3 border collies, who love nothing more than exploring Exmoor.

Louise Searle

Receptionist

Louise joined us in November 2016 and comes from a local farming family. She graduated with a BSc Hons degree in Agriculture at Seale Hayne Agriculture College, but for the previous 10 years had been working in business banking. Louise is looking forward to the challenge of a new role, and hopefully being able to use some of her degree experience.

Outside of work Louise enjoys watching Exeter Chiefs Rugby, going on hot holidays and refurbishing old furniture.

Sara Thurgood

Receptionist

Sara started with us in January 2012. She works part time in the practice mainly helping on Reception but also lends a hand in the clinic when we are very busy.

Sara is a qualified Dog Trainer running a local Dog Training School and also re-homes English Springer Spaniels. She is often giving out useful behavioural and training advice to clients in the waiting room of the surgery. Sara is also very involved with the Local Pony Club were she is a Chief Instructor.

At home, Sara is kept busy with her menagerie which includes a couple of horses, a couple of cats and numerous dogs. She keenly competes in agility with her spaniels and after breeding her flat coat retriever Myshka and keeping a daughter, she competes in shows and has been successful in qualifying for Crufts!

Clare Higglesden

Receptionist

Clare joined the Reception Team on a part-time basis in Feb 2017.

Having been born and schooled in Devon, she has spent the majority of her time living and working in London and the South East where her main career led her into Customer Relations Management with a leading retailer.

After focusing on raising her two children, in 2011 the family relocated to Devon.

You’ll spot Clare loving all the felines that visit the surgery. Having kept cats at home for over 20 years, she currently has 3 in residence – but is not averse to adding to this as her young son is desperate for a ‘ginger girl’! Having said this, Clare is very much enjoying the mix of animals that arrive in the surgery and strives to provide a first class client experience for everyone.