Meet the Team

Our team of dedicated farm only veterinary surgeons offers a friendly and focused approach to your herd and flock health, welfare and productivity. Our clients range from large dairy herds to single pet sheep with care provided by our team 24 hours a day. Each client’s animals are treated with the same care and professionalism that our clients have come to respect over the years – regardless of farm size.







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    Steve Shiles

    Clinical Director

    BVSc MRCVS

    Having qualified from the University of Bristol in 2005, Steve worked as a farm vet at a large practice in Salisbury. In 2010, he moved to Hale Veterinary Group, and is now one of the clinical directors at Avon. Establishing a beef benchmarking group is top of his agenda. When not at work, Steve and his wife Jenny, who is a small animal vet, are kept busy with their three young daughters and trying to control the family’s border terrier!

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    Dewi Jones

    Vet

    BVSc PGCert (FAP) MRCVS

    Dewi was brought up on a beef and sheep farm in Snowdonia and graduated from Liverpool University in 1995. His main interests are sheep medicine and flock health planning, infectious diseases in cattle, fertility and camelid medicine and surgery. At home he takes a keen interest in nature and in the ups and downs of the Welsh rugby and football teams. He is married with two teenage daughters.

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    Emily Walton

    Vet

    BVM BVS MRes MRCVS

    Emily graduated from the University of Nottingham in 2020 and joined Garden Vets, before becoming part of the new Avon team later that year. At university she completed a masters looking at future technologies to monitor cattle health, and she enjoys helping farmers to reduce disease incidence and improve productivity. In her spare time she enjoys swimming, cycling and running, as well as looking after her mischievous flock of sheep!

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    Sam Mitchell

    Vet

    BVMSci MRCVS

    Sam graduated from the University of Surrey in 2021 before moving down to the South West to join the team. He enjoys all aspects of cattle and sheep work, with a particular interest in cattle fertility and calf health. In his spare time, Sam enjoys watching rugby and almost anything outdoors – particularly camping and trail running.

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    Mel McPherson

    Vet

    BVM&S CertAVP MRCVS

    Spent 3 years studying Animal Science at Leeds University before getting a place at Edinburgh Vet School, graduating in 2006. After a brief spell in mixed practice in South Gloucestershire, I moved to Wroughton in 2008 to work as a farm vet , and have lived there ever since. Married to a farm vet and we have two children, aged 10 and 8. Our days are spent juggling work and the children' s numerous hobbies, as well as trying to keep up with our own interests . Of which, mine are walking our black Labrador , Bonnie, as much as I can, and playing the tenor horn in our village brass band. Last year I also managed to ' squeeze in' completing a Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice which was hard work but very worthwhile.

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    Holly Atkinson

    BVSc MRCVS

    Vet

    Holly joined our growing team at the beginning of September having graduated from the University of Bristol.

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    Razvan Rijnita

    TB Tester

    MRCVS

    Razvan qualified in Romania in 2008 and to the UK in 2015, working as a meat hygiene inspector and OV in Yeovil, before joining Hale Vets in 2015 as a TB tester. He is a keen beekeeper, producing his own honey. He is particularly green fingered, and enjoys spending his spare time in his garden tending to his vegetable plot.

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    Jo Guy

    TB Tester

    Jo previously worked for APHA as a Gamma Technician. In her spare time she is a keen trail and canicross runner.

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    Naomi Stevens

    VetTech

    RoMS

    Naomi started with Avon Farm Vets as a receptionist in October 2020, but has since moved on to being the practice VetTech. She previously qualified as a small animal nurse but is happiest dealing with large animals. Naomi says she's excited to meet more farmers as the practice increases the number of VetTech services on offer. She really enjoys being part of the calf tracker programme as well as helping with vaccinations or being a spare pair of hands where needed. In her spare time she can be found either at the yard with her horse, out walking somewhere or wedding planning!

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    Amber Dunham

    Practice Manager

    BSc RVN

    Amber is an experienced Practice Manager and Registered Veterinary Nurse with over 18years in the veterinary industry. She is passionate about helping practices deliver high standards of veterinary care. In her spare time she enjoys being outdoors walking and exploring the countryside.

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    Caroline Macaulay

    Support Team