Pat Kinch MRCVS

Pat was born in Cambridge in 1966. After a short spell in Cheshire at the age of 7, his family moved to Edinburgh where his father worked as a vet for a pharmaceutical company.

Pat was accepted at Bristol University in 1984 to study Veterinary Science and spent the next 5 years studying and riding his bike. He graduated in 1989 with a Bristol Red for his cycle racing achievements and immediately took up a position in mixed practice in Cheshire. In addition to tackling his first job, he broke a world record on a recumbent bike.

After another couple of jobs in Cheshire he moved to Leek in 1992 – not before having broken another 3 world records. Pat left Leek in 1999, but was determined to settle in the Moorlands area. He lives with his three dogs, Penny, Rain and Lintie. His wife, Jacqui, is an educational adviser for ages 14-19 with Derbyshire County Council.

Outside veterinary medicine, Pat’s interests are current affairs, music and of course, bike-racing.

Dawn Edwards RVN

Dawn has worked at the practice forever!  She qualifed in 1998, originally working in a neighbouring vets.  She has worked at Churnet Valley Vets with Pat since the practice opened in 2000.

Dawn lives with her partner of 13 years , Darren, and they have a daughter Isabelle who is two years old.

Her dog, Jessie, is 14 years old and was adopted by Dawn from her first veterinary practice.

Jo Kirrane VN

Jo is a qualified veterinary nurse who has worked in veterinary practices for 20 years in total, qualifying in 2000.

She is married and lives with her husband Martin and two dogs in Whiston. Only standing room in Jo's house as she owns Sam the German Shepherd, a retired police dog, now being the grand old age of 12  and Layla, a three year old French mastiff cross who was adopted from a local animal rescue charity.

Jo enjoys reading, walking the dogs and music. She is a member of two local choirs and sings soprano, performing classical choral works at the Victoria Hall in Hanley.

Emily Caine VN

Emily came to veterinary nursing relatively late as she worked for the social services in care homes for people with learning disabilities and physical disabilities and adults with violent behaviour for 5½ years from the age of 19.

She left that to become an Animal Care Nurse in January 2004 and started her veterinary nurse training 18 months later in September 2005

Emily qualified in November 2007 and moved to Churnet Valley Veterinary Centre in  June 2008.

Emily lives with her partner Jason and their chihuahua, Conrad, and Onion the cat.  Emily and Jason are expecting their first baby in October 09.  Emily is on maternity leave at present.

Mel Costello RVN

Mel is our permanent temporary veterinary nurse!  She has been employed on a locum basis - but is always as keen to come back to us as we are to have her!

Mel lives on a narrowboat with her  greyhound -  Summer who came in to be spayed from a local rescue centre and went home that night with Mel.

The other dogs are Mel's beau's - who also lives on a narrowboat, love on the ocean wave (well, canal anyway)

Nobody will be creeping up on us...

Summer..

Ann Johnston

Ann is a part-time receptionist.  Also she  is responsible for this website.  Ann has many years of veterinary experience (ie she's no spring chicken)

Ann has an elderly jack russell - Flo - and two granddogs who frequently come to stay.   Phoebe is a mad jackapoo and Charlie a rescue jack russell. 

Grandma Flo treats them both with the contempt they deserve.

Mad Phoebe:

Please make her go away...