Our Team

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  Mr John C Gilliver

  BVSc MRCVS

  Clinical Director

  Being the son of a Dairy Farmer, I have been exposed to livestock from an early age. I started riding at the age of 6 & started breeding ponies at the age of 14. I was focused on a Veterinary Career from an early age & was fortunate to graduate from The University of Liverpool with honours in 1980.

  My first Veterinary employment was in North Yorkshire in a mainly large animal practice & whilst there developed a keen interest in equine stud work. I established Garwood Veterinary Practice in April 1989 as an equine facility to deal with all aspects of equine work & historically some agricultural clients.

  This subsequently has developed into Gillivervet. Outside Veterinary work I am actively involved with horses, riding, breeding, showing, hunting and judging (SHBGB & CHAPS panel judge) I have served as a Council Member of the BEVA for 6 years being responsible for AI & Riding Establishments.

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  Mrs Alison Swift

  BVSc MRCVS

  Assistant Clinical Director

  Alison qualified from Liverpool University in 2006. She re-joined Gillivervet in September 2010, after an abscence of 2 years where she further developed her equine skills. 

  In her spare time Alison enjoys competing and breeding her own horses on her family run yard in Darwen. Alison also enjoys walking her dogs with her husband Garth.

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  Mrs Kathleen Hennessy

  BVM&S MRCVS

  Senior Veterinary Surgeon

  Kathleen qualified from Edinburgh in 1999 and worked at Gillivervet for 10 years before joining her now husband Simon in Scotland where she continued to work as an Equine Veterinary Surgeon for a further 6 years, completing the first 2 modules towards an Advanced Certificate in Veterinary Practice.

  Kathleen has returned home to Lancashire to be closer to friends & family with 2 Border Terriers, Basil & Coriander and a Border Collie called Cal which take up most of her spare time. Kathleen enjoys all aspects of Equine Practice and has a special interest in Equine Dentistry.  

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  Miss Hannah Smith

  BVSc CertAVP (EM) MRCVS

  Veterinary Surgeon

  Hannah qualified from Liverpool University in 2011 with distinction. She then went on to work in a mixed practice before starting an 18-month internship at B&W Equine Hospital where she further developed her equine skills.
  
  In her spare time Hannah enjoy running and is a keen baker – which all the office staff are pleased about!

• 

  Miss Kayleigh Cook

  BVSc CertAVP MRCVS

  Veterinary Surgeon

  Kayleigh graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2015, she then went on to spend two eyars working in a mixed practice in Surrey. Following this she spent 13 months as an intern in equine medicine and surgery at Leahurst Equine Hospital. Kayleigh has just recently been awarded her certificate in advanced veterinary practice.

  Outside of work Kayleigh can be found with Beau her dog, and her two very cheeky cats Pea and Bean. In her spare time she enjoys walking, riding and running.

• 

  Miss Rachel Schneiders

  BVSc (Hons) MRCVS

  Veterinary Surgeon

  Rachel graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2015 with Honours & the Zoetis prize for excellence in Equine Studies, she went straight back to the University Equine Hospital to do an externship in equine orthopaedics & soft tissue surgery.  After a brief stint of charity vet work with SPANA in Morocco she started working in a busy mixed practice on the edge of the peak district.  Rachel joins us after completing a year's internship at Minster Equine Veterinary Clinic.

  Rachel enjoys running & mountain biking, rides her family's horses when she can & can't wait to get her first Labrador.

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  Miss Sarah Willson

  BVetMed MRCVS

  Veterinary Surgeon

  Sarah qualified in 2015 from Royal Veterinary College, she joined Gillivervet in April 2019

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  Miss Hannah Birch

  BVM&S MRCVS

  Veterinary Surgeon

  Hannah has recently graduated from the University of Edinburgh with the prize for best equine student.  She has a particular interest in stud work having spent time with a well respected stud vet.  She started at Gillivervet in August 2019.

  Hannah spends as much of her free time as possible riding and bringing on her family's horses and has an old eventer called Sunset who still enjoys farm rides and hacking.  This year she has bred a foal, Revel, who she hopes she will event with in the future.

• 

  Miss Julie Best

  Practice Manager

  Julie joined the Practice in September 2005 having previously worked in Finance. She has been a client of the Practice for about 20 years.

  Julie owns her own horses, which currently compete in British Eventing with her daughter Samantha. In her spare time she likes to walk her 2 dogs Millie & Ellie, and often babysits her daughters dogs Dipsy and Anna.

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  Mrs Christine Cotton

  Office Manager

  Christine joined us in Febuary 2015 initially to cover maternity leave. Christine is the Office Manager and she is responsible for the day to day running of the office as well as being PA to John & Anne.

  Christine has 2 horses of her own, Velvet her own large riding horse that previously competed at HOYs and the Royal International & James her daughters lead rein pony. Away from the horses Christine spends her time mainly with her husband Ian, daughter Elsie, and Beanie the sausage dog.

• 

  Miss Megan Johnson

  Administrator/Stock Co-ordinator

  Megan joined Gillivervet in June 2014 initially covering maternity leave in the office. Megan's roles include ordering and controlling stock for the practice. You will also speak to her on the phone.

  Megan owns a Welsh Sec D called Tom who she has had from 6 months old. Away from the horses Megan enjoys walking her Husky Mishka, and border terrier Scout.

• 

  Miss Alyssa Wilson

  Administrator/Marketing Coordinator

  Alyssa has worked at the practice since October 2013, where she started working on the yard part-time. She is now a permanent member of staff working in the office after covering for maternity leave. Alyssa's role includes marketing and events management for the practice, you will also speak to her on the phone.

  Away from work Alyssa's spare time is taken up by Rambler, her traditional cob, who she has owned since he was 2 years old. 

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  Mrs Carly Tootell

  Receptionist

  Carly joined Gillivervet in Sept 2019 after spending 12 years working at Specsavers in Customer Services. 

  Carly is married with a 16 year old son & in her spare time likes going to the cinema and spending time with friends. Carly is thoroughly enjoying her new role & clients can expect to meet her at reception when they attend the practice.

• 

  Miss Hazel Kirkham

  Yard Supervisor

  Hazel joined Gillivervet in August 2010 and works on the yard looking after the horses. Hazel was an active pony club member until the age of 18 gaining her B test, she then went on to work with horses gaining her stage 1 and 2 riding and stable management. 

  Hazel has previously owned fell ponies and competed them up to county level. In her spare time she likes to bake and walk her dog Ted. Hazel has taken on wellbeing at the practice, and values everyone feeling at home in work.

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  Miss Molly Phillips

  Groom

  Molly Joined us in February 2016 and works on the yard. She hunts regularly with the Holcombe & The Vale of Lune & holds both her BHSAI and Pony Club B Test.

  Outside of work Molly competes with British Eventing and has competed regularly at the pony club championships. She also has a sausage dog called Spicy.

• 

  Miss Chloe Taylor

  Groom

  Chloe works full time on the yard looking after the in patients. 

  Outside of work she has an Irish Draught youngster called Greg. Chloe also has 2 dogs, Poppy and Penny and two rats Piper and Holly.

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  Mr Stripes & Socks Gilliver
• 

  Miss Elsie Gilliver

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