Our Nurse Team

Tracey Earle RVN

Head Veterinary Nurse (Site Manager) – Dawlish

I am a fully Registered, Qualified Veterinary Nurse. I work part-time and I am also one of the clinical coach team who trains the student nurses within the practice. I live in Torquay with my husband (Graeme), 2 children and 2 cats. I love my job and couldn’t imagine doing anything else!

Gemma Huggonson RVN

Senior Veterinary Nurse and Theatre Manager Dawlish

I have worked at Bay Vet Group since 2001 and I qualified as a registered Veterinary Nurse in 2007.

My interests during work are general nursing, monitoring anaesthetics and assisting in theatre.

I have three dogs of my own, two of which I rescued many years ago through work.

Outside of work I enjoy walking my dogs, swimming, going for little jollies in my car, horse riding and watching reality TV with a beer.

Jade Bailey RVN

Veterinary Nurse

I started working in a Veterinary Practice in 2011 and qualified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse in 2016. I started working for Bay Vet Group in 2017 and have enjoyed it ever since. I’ve wanted to work with animals ever since I was 5 years old so this is really my dream job. I am going to be a clinical coach for the student nurses and I hope to have more qualifications under my belt in the next few years! At my parents house I have a ginger tabby called Lennie, and at home I have a very naughty Birman kitten called Edith and I am soon to have another kitten called Albert.

Joanne Calver RVN

Veterinary Nurse

I qualified as a Veterinary Nurse in 1999 after studying at Bicton College and working as a trainee nurse in a Referral Veterinary Hospital.

I came to work for Bay Vets in 2000, then rejoined the practice in 2011 on a part time basis.  I love the diversity of my job, we have a fantastic team of people and lots of lovable patients to care for.  I recently joined the Clinical Coach team.  We work alongside the colleges to help the student veterinary nurses complete the practical aspects of their training on their way to becoming Registered Veterinary Nurses.

Outside of work my own pets and my family keep me busy.

Katie Wheatley RVN

Veterinary Nurse

I went straight into veterinary nursing from school in 2002 and joined Bay Vet Group in 2009.

I am a registered qualified veterinary nurse and clinical coach. I enjoy training the student nurses within the practice.

Lorna Watson RVN

Veterinary Nurse

I have worked in veterinary practice since 2006 and  qualified as a registered veterinary nurse in 2011. I joined Bay Vet Group in March 2018. I have a diploma in coaching and mentoring and really enjoy training students and helping with their practical exams.

At home, I have a husband, a little boy and two tortoises that keep me busy.

Samantha Palmer RVN

Registered Veterinary Nurse

I’ve worked at Bay vet Group for nearly 6 years and qualified as a veterinary nurse in November 2020. 

I love all aspects of my job, but being in theatre is my favourite.

I spend my free time hanging out with my own pets, Louie my little scruffy dog and my cat Norman.

Kyarna Rushworth RVN

Registered Veterinary Nurse

I joined the team at Bay Vet Group in 2016. I had previously worked as a receptionist in both a caravan park and a hotel, as well as having experience as a dog grooming assistant. I have also volunteered at Animals in Distress and had work experience at Paignton Zoo during my time at college. I really enjoy every part of my job and I am eager and enthusiastic to learn more. I qualified as a Veterinary Nurse last year.

I have four beautiful rescue cats, a rather gorgeous English Springer Spaniel called Dobby and a beautiful Golden Retriever called Merlot. I spend my spare time exploring and travelling around the world.

Danika Miller SVN

Student Veterinary Nurse

I joined Bay Vet Group in May 2018, I had worked in a veterinary practice for 3 years prior to this, where I completed my veterinary nursing assistant’s course. I have a level 3 diploma in animal management where I got to work alongside the keepers at Paignton zoo. I have wanted to work with animals ever since I was a little girl. I started my training to become a qualified veterinary nurse this year with Bay Vet Group I have been wanting to do this for a long time! I can’t wait to see what the future holds! My main areas of interest are general nursing, radiology, emergency and critical care. I have an interest in neurology and in my spare time I like to spend time with my animals and family.

Nicola Stanbury SVN

Student Veterinary Nurse

I joined the team in December 2018 after previously working at another vets for 9 years and also working as a support worker for people with disabilities. I have also worked in catteries and kennels prior to that so have lots of experience in working with animals.  Outside of work I love spending my time with my family and friends. I have a passion for running and enjoy getting out and running around the beautiful Torbay. I completed London Marathon earlier this year for charity. I have 2 young children aged 6 and 8 as well as 3 cats and a hamster.

Kim Golden SVN

Student Veterinary Nurse – Animal Nursing Assistant certificate

I joined the Bay Vet Group Team as a VNA in march 2019 after completing my level 2 Animal Nursing Assistant Certificate at South Devon College and I have just started at Bicton Agricultural College to become a registered veterinary nurse this September.

I am very new to the veterinary industry so have a lot to learn but what I have learnt so far I have enjoyed putting in to practice and am keen to keep learning.

I have a busy house hold at home with my husband, 4 children, 3 cats, a dog (called Bruce) and a snake (called Ghost). In my spare time I enjoy family days out and the occasional night out with friends.

April Lelliott SVN

Student Veterinary Nurse

I re-joined the Bay Vet Group team as a VNA in January 2019, and I have now just started my veterinary nursing course at Exeter College.  I have worked in various veterinary practices for just over 12 years. At home my spare time is taken up by my 2 cats and a beautiful working Cocker Spaniel called Ember, who I love taking for long walks on the beach.

Nikki Thorne

Veterinary Nursing Assistant (Site Manager)

I started at Bay Vet Group in 2011 but have been nursing since 2002. I enjoy all aspects of my job but particularly love caring for our inpatients during their stay with us.

I live in Torquay with my ever growing menagerie of pets which currently consists of 5 cats, 3 hamsters, some fish and a house rabbit! I enjoy dog walking and spending time with my family and friends.

Sara Pratt

Veterinary Nursing Assistant (Site Manager)

I have been working as a VNA since I left school and have been with Bay Vet Group since the new Paignton surgery opened. I have a number of animals ranging from horses to chickens, dog, cats and children. Most of my spare time is taken up by my son competing at national level motocross.

Cara Timlin

Veterinary Nursing Assistant

I love to spend my time walking Baxter my Jack Russell around Devon, gym time, wild swimming and spending time with family and friends. I also have two beautiful bunnies at home called Loki and Thor.

Ann Draj

Veterinary Nursing Assistant

I have been working at Bay Vet Group since April 2016 after I moved down from S. Lancs. I previously worked at Manchester Dogs home so not surprisingly my main passion is dogs! I have 3 oldies of my own who take up all of my spare time leaving little time for other hobbies except chilling out in front of fantasy DVD’s with a bourbon and coke!

My main responsibility is organising and running the Laboratory at our Dawlish site.

Alex Wicks

Veterinary Nursing Assistant

I joined the Bay Vet Team in April 2019 as their Veterinary Cleaner, and I have since been able to progress on to become a Veterinary Nursing Assistant – which was my dream job. Next year I will start my VNA qualification and I am hoping that one day in the future I will be able to become a Registered Veterinary Nurse. I love all aspects of my job especially seeing patients going home happy and healthy. I have a beautiful dog called Kia who is an English Springer Spaniel, and in my time of I love taking her for long walks at the beach.

Evelyn Andrews

 Veterinary Nursing Assistant

I joined the Bay Vet Group team in 2020 as a Kennel Assistant and soon had the opportunity to progress onto a VNA! I love my job and all aspects involved. My favourite part of the job is caring for our inpatients and helping out in theatre. My dream is to become a Registered Veterinary Nurse so I can learn lots of new skills to bring to the team. 

At home I have dog called Jasper and a horse called Woody who I enjoy spending time with. 

Chloe Rice

 Veterinary Nursing Assistant

Leanne Gover-Rainbow

 Veterinary Nursing Assistant

I joined the Bay Vet Group October 2021 after working at the Blue Cross as an animal welfare assistant for seven years. I have a keen interest in animal behaviour, and am a qualified pet bereavement supporter. I have three cats at home who keep me on my toes, I adore all animals but have a real soft spot for felines.
In my spare time I like to make the most of living in Torbay by sea swimming, paddle boarding, walking and roller skating.

Kieran Van Hagen

 Kennel Assistant

 Gemma Gannon

 Cleaner

 Jamie Isted

 Kennel Assistant

My name is Jamie and I am a kennel assistant at Bay Vet Group in Paignton. I previously studied Animal Management Level 3 at South Devon College because of my big interest in animal nursing and husbandry.

This was before starting as a kickstart at Bay Vet Group later being employed full time within the practice. In my spare time I enjoy activities such as swimming, running and building computers.

Taylor Moore

 Kennel Assistant

I joined Bay Vet Group in 2021. I am a mother to my little boy, Tommy, and I have 2 excitable kittens, Tiger and Casper, and a beautiful dog called Lyla Lou. We love playing games and going for long woodland adventures.

My dream is to become a Registered Veterinary Nurse – I am hoping I will be to start this course soon! I have learnt so much while working at Bay Vet Group and love being part of such a successful team.