Our Team

Companion Vets

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  Mark Stott

  BVMS DBR MRCVS

  Director

  Mark was brought up in Galgate but has strong farming family links in Westmorland. He went to Lancaster Grammar School and graduated from Glasgow University in 1992. Having spent two years in Dumfries, Mark returned to the area as a mixed practitioner at Highgate Veterinary Clinic and in January 2011, together with Jim formed Farm Gate Vets. Mark enjoys all aspects of farm animal practice but has a speciality in cow and bull fertility having obtained a Diploma in Bovine Reproduction from Liverpool University in 2001. Outside work, Mark enjoys time with his family, walking the dogs, fell walking and is a first responder for the Endmoor area.

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  Jim McKinstry

  BVMS DBR MRCVS

  Director

  Jim graduated from Glasgow University in 1999 and immediately joined Baldrand Vets.  In 2004 he became a Clinical Director.  In January 2011 Jim, together with Mark  formed Farm Gate Vets.  In September 2014 Jim passed is Diploma in Bovine Reproduction. His main veterinary interests are in cattle fertility and mastitis. Jim originally comes from a farm in Northern Ireland, where his family had a beef suckler herd.  When not at work, Jim spends time on his father-in-law's farm, and experimenting with his own herd of beef cattle. He also enjoys walking and running when time allows.

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  Sarah Harker

  BVM&S MRCVS

  Veterinary Surgeon

  Sarah graduated from Edinburgh University in 1996 and has worked mostly in mixed practice since graduation. Enjoying all aspects of farm vetting with a special interest in sheep health having being brought up on a beef and sheep farm in Yorkshire, Sarah is heavily involved in our sheep club and runs our lambing courses.

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  Rebecca Dean

  BVMS MRCVS

  Veterinary Surgeon

  Becky, originally hailing from near Cartmel, spent a lot of her university placements with the Farm Gate team and finally joined the team for a permenant role in January 2015. Becky graduated from the Glasgow University in 2013, and after spending some time travelling, she joined a mixed practice on the Isle of Man. Becky has taken on a mixed practice role within the team, dividing her time between Kendal and Sedbergh branches. Outside of work she enjoys swimming, amateur photography and is planning on taking up climbing.

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  Kathrine Muller Jones

  BVSc MRCVS

  Veterinary Surgeon

  Katherine graduated in the Summer 2019 and joined the practice soon after.She has taken on a mixed practice
  role combining small and large animal work. She enjoys all aspects of farm work.

  When not working she can be found enjoying the great out doors .Katherine especially enjoys climbing and walking.

Support Team

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  Carol Curwen

  Started work at the Practice in January 2013 as the Practice Manager. It is her responsibility to ensure the smooth running of the practice. In her spare time she enjoys keeping fit and travel.

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  Karen Huntington

  Joined Farmgate vets in January 2016 to assist the Practice Manger. Her main role will be helping with accounts and also coordinating events. In her free time, she enjoys walking and gardening.

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  Helen McKinstry

  Assisted Jim with the initial set up of the practice in January 2011 as a Director.  She carried out the day to day running of the office, purchases, salary payments, vet rotas and events until a Practice Manager was appointed. Helen has also covered reception, assisted with TB testing and carried out deliveries. In December 2013 she qualified as an R-SQP. These days Helen continues juggle vets by keeping the vet rota up to date, but also helps on the family farm.

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  Evelyn Stott

  Joined the practice in April 2011 as a Director. She is a chartered physiotherapist who works with children. Evelyn married Mark in 1994 and moved to Kendal the following year. She will mainly be based at Kendal, helping out with reception cover.

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  Shirley Cotton

  Works in Reception at Lancaster. Her role in the team involves keeping the practice running smoothly; from taking telephone calls to organising visits and drug orders for farmers. Shirley has been part of the team since 2003 and comes from a farming background. Outside work, Shirley enjoys DIY, keeping fit and walking.

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  Linda Dawson

  Linda joined our team in June 2020  as our new Farm Coordinator to help promote our practice and the services we offer.

  She has spent the past 16 years in the pharmaceutical industry and has been our rep for all that time so we do know her quite well already.

  Her spare time is generally taken up by her two girls and the family farm.

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  Jeanette McDougall

  Joined Farm Gate Vets at Kendal in May 2011 to help out in with reception duties on a part-time basis. Her family and their dog keep Jeanette busy but if she manages to find any spare time, she’s a keen badminton player! Any vet receptionist tips have been given to Jeanette by her sister Shirley!

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  Lisa Bramley

  Joined Farm Gate Vets with the Sedbergh practice. She ensures the practice at Sedbergh runs like clock work, taking telephone calls, client accounts, stock control and assisting vets. Lisa is a true animal lover, currently having a horse, 4 dogs, a cat and several chickens.

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  Lesley Faulkner

  Is a Veterinary Nurse based at Sedbergh Practice. She trained at The RSPCA Putney Animal Hospital London, and then moved on to become Head Nurse at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. She returned home to join a mixed practice, joining Farmgate Vets in July 2017.

  In her spare time she has likes to go running, or walking, and enjoy spending time outdoors with her children. She also likes cooking (mainly the eating part!) and a reading a good book.

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  Charlotte Gerrard

  Receptionist and SQP

  Joined Farm Gate Vets in January 2018 to work on reception at Lancaster after moving from Preston. Charlotte brings a wealth of experience from previously working in a mixed practice as a Veterinary Care Assistant/Receptionist.

  Most of her spare time revolves around her partner’s Dairy farm.

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  Gill Lumb

  Vet Tech, Receptionist & SQP

  Joined the receptionist team at Farmgate Vets in February 2017 helping out with busy daily tasks in reception at Lancaster and J36.

  Gill comes from a farming background and is a keen outdoor Lass, enjoying fitness cycling and dog walking.