The Team

We have a friendly and dedicated team of qualified and experienced professionals.

Born in Somerset, the son of a veterinary surgeon, raised in Devon and now settled in Dorset, Neal attended Colyton Grammar School and qualified from RVC London in 1979. After spending two years in mixed practice in Herefordshire he set off to see the world, working in the Middle East, Papua New Guinea and Australia, plus a short stint in the Royal Army Veterinary Corps.
In 1990 he returned to the UK, joined the practice in Bridport, becoming a partner in 1993 and principal in April 2007. Neal's main interest has traditionally been in farm animal practice, particularly cattle, but is now increasingly becoming involved in the companion animal side.
Outside of work he spends his time running his 22 acre small-holding (with a special interset in conservation), riding his horse, driving his motorbike and more recently spending time with his family.

Laura qualified from Edinburgh University in 2002. Originally from Sussex Laura worked in mixed practice in the South West for three years before deciding to broaden her horizons by travelling the world and working in regions such as Turkey and Thailand neutering feral dogs and cats. After returning to Britain a more sedate life was in order, so locumed around the South West for a year before joining Haydon Veterinary Group in April 2007.
Any spare time she has is taken up by walking, riding, socialising, spending time with her boyfriend, two cats and dog.

Helen has been in veterinary practice in Bridport since 1974, and during this time has seen the practice evolve from a "James Herriott" style agricultural practice run from a private house to a mixed practice with ever increasing companion animal emphasis based in modern purpose built premises. She has a particular interest in feline medicine and surgery.
Outside work she enjoys riding and carriage driving, has for many years played in a local skittles team without any signs of improvement and attends concerts of classical music.

Pat spent 30 years as a partner in practice in Somerset. During that time she developed an interest in complementary medicine and undertook training in homeopathy, acupuncture and herbal medicine.
Two years ago she left practice and moved to Dorset to pursue her interest in the complementary field and now works alongside the vets at the Haydon Veterinary Group treating animals that can benefit from an alternative approach for their problems.
She is also a qualified homeopath in the human field and so is happy to treat patients with two legs or four!
In her spare time she is a novice organic gardener and an enthusiastic walker in the beautiful Dorset countryside with her two dogs.

Tammie currently lives in Weymouth after moving from Cornwall in 2001, when her parents retired to France. Tammie started veterinary nurse training in May 2002 and attended Kingston Maurward College for the first year, and Lynwood School of Veterinary Nursing for the final year, before qualifying in August 2004.
Tammie joined Haydon Veterinary Group in January 2005, as part of a three nurse team. Having come from a small animal only practice, she enjoys the variety of dealing with farm animals, equine and small animals.
Tammie has a very unusual dog called Bobby (a Beagle, Jack Russell, Staffi, Collie cross) who she rescued at 6 months of age.
Outside of her veterinary work, Tammie has a part-time bar job, and in her spare time enjoys walking Bobby, running, kick-boxing, pole dancing and reading.

I grew up in Somerset and moved to London to start a course in Animal Science after completing my A levels. I eventually qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2005.
Before starting at Haydon Veterinary Group I worked at the Blue Cross and PDSA, both charities based in London. This was a great learning experience for me.
I then decided to move back to Lyme Regis to be closer to my family. I returned from London with a Staffie puppy called 'Kashka' who was left at the Blue Cross, after being hit by a car resulting in a fractured pelvis and femur. She has now made a full recovery and loves life!
I enjoy swimming, walking and dancing and I would also love to see more of the world. I have previously traveled around Malaysia and Turkey.

Lynne has worked part-time at the practice since 1994, initially in reception but now deals with finance and administration. After completing a post-graduate diploma in administration, Lynne moved from her native Yorkshire to London, where she initially worked as a conference organiser, then as counselling services administrator for a national children's charity and as a teacher. She moved to Dorset in 1993, with her partner, David. They share their home with a Border Terrorist, a Golden Retriever cross who decided he didn't want to be a guide dog and a pair of Indian Runner ducks.
Lynne has seen many changes at the practice, reflecting the general movement in veterinary medicine towards an increasingly professional, client driven service and the increased recognition of the contribution that is made by trained and qualified Veterinary Nurses.

Chrissie was born and bred in the Marshwood Vale, where her family farmed until 2006. She still lives in the house where she was born.
Chrissie joined the practice in September 1999, as a part-time receptionist with duties including reception work, administration, and anything else the job demands of her.
She also runs a letting agency with her mother. Any spare time is spent gardening, swimming or reading.

Born and bought up in Poole but now living in Hawkchurch, Paula has been working part-time for Haydon veterinary Goup since 2000. After leaving to have the first of her two daughters in 2002 she rejoined in 2004 to run the Lyme Regis branch part-time.
She has worked in the veterinary profession since the age of 14 and is a trained veterinary nurse.
She has two cats called Daphne and Velma, as well as chickens in the garden. Paula likes to spend most of her spare time with her husband and daughters.