Our Team

Vet Team

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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 experimenting with his own herd of beef cattle. He also enjoys walking and running when time allows.

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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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  Sarah Harker

  BVM&S MRCVS

  Director, 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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  Kathrine Muller Jones

  BVSc MRCVS

  Director, 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.

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  Finbarr O Sullivan Greene

  BVSc MSc MRCVS

  Director, Veterinary Surgeon

  Originally from West Cork in Ireland, Finbarr graduated in 2012 from the University of Liverpool. After graduating he worked as a mixed vet in Cumbria for 5 years before joining Elanco animal health, focusing on Transition cow management with a brief spell working on small animal pain and parasitology.

  He joined Farmgate in September 2020 and is mainly based at the Lancaster office. Clinically Finbarr has an interest in the impact of disease control and management on Agri-economics and welfare. He is currently studying towards a post graduate certificate in production animal medicine. Outside of work Finbarr lives with his wife Steph (also a vet and from the area) 2 working springers and 2 cats. His hobbies revolve around food, and is happiest catching, cooking and eating all sorts, better still if doing it while enjoying the great outdoors.

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  Hannah Tatham

  BVSc MRCVS

  Veterinary Surgeon

  
  Hannah graduated from Liverpool University in 2016 and worked as a farm animal vet in Preston before joining the team in August 2018.
  Hannah enjoys all aspects of farm work but particularly fertility work, disease investigations and youngstock management.
  Outside of work she is kept busy rearing her own dairy heifers. Away from cows she enjoys seeing friends, going walking and has recently taken up bouldering.

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  Bethany Thornton

  Veterinary Surgeon

  Beth joined the practice in 2018 after graduating from Liverpool University. She is interested in all aspects of farm animal work and has a particular interest in fertility and youngstock health. In her spare time she enjoys riding her pony, attempting the occasional painting and helping out on her husbands dairy farm.

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  Rebekah Carling

  BSc(Hons) BVetMed MRCVS

  Veterinary Surgeon

  Rebekah joined our Lancaster branch in March 2021. Originally from Fleetwood and with family in the North Lancashire area she has decided it's time to come back home having previously worked in Wales and most recently the Northumberland/Scottish Borders east coast. Her work so far has mainly involved beef and sheep and so she is looking forward to getting stuck into dairy (although still hoping that she sees enough beef cows to keep her reflexes sharp!). Outside of work Rebekah spends her time knitting, trying to keep up with all the babies her friends seem to keep having and as a committed Christian is looking forward to getting involved with a local church. 

   

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  Thom Leman

  BVM BVS MRCVS

  Veterinary Surgeon

  Thom graduated from the University of Nottingham in 2023 and joined us in August that year working mostly from our Kendal branch. Outside of work Thom loves playing rugby, cricket, tennis and if not playing having a beer while watching! He also enjoys surfing and walking which he hopes to be able to do plenty of up here in the lakes.

   

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  Sol Elliott

  BVM BVS MRCVS

  Veterinary Surgeon

  Sol graduated as a Vet from Nottingham University in July 2023 and joined the Lancaster team at the end of August. She grew up on a beef and sheep farm in the Midlands and spends her spare time with her 20 year old pony. 

• 

  Beth Griffiths

  BVSc MRes PhD MRCVS

  Veterinary Surgeon

  Beth joined us at our J36 branch in June 2024, she trained to be a vet at the University of Liverpool and graduated in 2019.  Having finished a PhD in lameness in dairy cattle, she wanted to move into clinical practice. She has recently moved up from Devon to sunny Cumbria and is enjoying meeting the Farm Gate Vet clients. When not at work Beth can be found throwing heavy barbells and dumbbells around in a pass time known as Cross Fit, and exploring the Lakes and Dales. 

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  Fraser Jackson

  BVetMed MRCVS

  Veterinary Surgeon

  Fraser graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in London in 2024. Orginally from Holme Village, he was glad to escape London and the hefty prices to return to his home county. Fraser works from all of our branches including a mix of large and small animal. Outside of work he enjoys painting, drawing, going on hikes with his labrador Bea and gardening in his allotment. 

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  Alex Vayro

  VetMB MRCVS

  Veterinary Surgeon

  Alex joined us in September 2024 after graduating from Cambridge University that summer. She is originally from Northallerton where she spent lots of time on farm visits with her mum, who is also a farm vet. In her spare time she will most likely be found in a swimming pool, but on sunny days she enjoys hiking and mountain biking with her husband Jack. 

Support Team

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  Lesley Faulkner

  Practice Manager

  Lesley became Practice Manager at the end of 2023 after joining the company in 2017 as 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 before returning home.

  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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  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. 

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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

  Director, Farm Coordinator

  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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  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.

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  Ruby Allan

  Vet Tech, Receptionist & SQP

  Ruby joined us in September 2021 as a Vet Tech and Receptionist based at J36 after graduating from Newton Rigg College with a Level 3 Extended Diploma in Agriculture.  Ruby is a farmers daughter from near Kirkby Lonsdale where they farm beef and sheep with the main interest breeding mule gimmer lambs. In her spare time she is usually found with her dog, Gem on the farm and competing and socialising with her local young farmers. 

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  Mary Brownsord

  Vet Tech, Receptionist & SQP

  Mary graduated Myerscough College in 2021 with a Bachelors in Animal Science with Honours in Welfare and Behaviour. She has been brought up around animals, especially dogs with her parents owning a Kennels and Cattery.  Mary has always had an interest in farming and helped on family friends farms growing up.  When not at work you’ll find her with her dog Bunty causing chaos on pheasant and partridge shoots!

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  Robyn Speak

  Receptionist

  Originally from South Yorkshire, Robyn moved to Cumbria around 5 years ago.  Her love of the outdoors and adventure drew her to this field of work. She is excited to learn more about the farming life and take on all the challenges that it brings. Robyn is working from both Lancaster and J36 branches and when not at work she is planning on spending her time continuing to explore the area as much as I can.

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  Rebecca Mason

  Receptionist & SQP
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  Claire Capstick

  Veterinary Nurse

  Claire joined our Sedbergh practice in May 2023 as a Registered Veterinary Nurse. Her main clinical areas of interest include, hospitalisation nursing, dental care, wound care, and consults which include weight management clinics, and dental care. When not nursing, Claire can be found helping her husband with their sheep, or found training/trialing her sheepdogs. Claire also has two young sons who also keep her very busy !

   

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  Helen Newton

  Receptionist

  Helen joined us in April 2024 part time as she also works on the family dairy farm where she grew up in Levens. She has 4 teenage children which that keep her on her toes. When not working Helen can be found galloping on her horse or out on the fells with her dogs.

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  Beth Whitfield

  Receptionist

  Beth joined us in April 2024 as a receptionist based at both J36 and Lancaster having previously graduated from Myerscough College with a Bachelors in Agriculture with honours in Livestock Science. In her spare time she works on the family beef and sheep farm, occasionally attends the gym and generally loves being outside. 

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  Kim Winder

  Veterinary Nurse

  Kim joined out Sedbergh practice in November 2024 as a 14 year qualified veterinary nurse, previously working as head nurse at a practice in Kendal. Her main areas of interest are anaesthesia and weight watches for pets. Out of work Kim is kept busy with many pets and her two daughters, often going away with the caravan or out on mountain bikes and dog walks.