Martin and his wife, Laura (also a vet and leading epidemiologist working at Warwick University) have three children and have lived in Warwick for the last few years.

Niall Taylor BVM&S, GPCert(SAM), MRCVS (Veterinary Partner)

I qualified in the Summer of 1982 from Edinburgh University veterinary college, the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Medicine.

After spending my first Summer cycling around South England and Northern France I began work as an assistant in a mixed practice in Callington in Cornwall.

After three and a half years I moved on to another mixed practice, this time in Trowbridge, Wiltshire.

There I met and married my now wife, Alison and we came to Glastonbury to settle in the Summer of 1992 and have been here ever since.

I have been a partner in the business since 1996. Although my first 10 years in practice involved an even mix of pet and farm animals my main area of interest and responsibility at Orchard is the companion (that’s pet!) animal side of the practice.

In 2005 I achieved a general practitioner certificate in small animal medicine after a 2 year course with the European School of Post Graduate Veterinary Studies (see pictures on the right). This practitioner level qualification is designed to demonstrate a commitment to continuing professional development.

I am also the lead assessor for Veterinary Nursing training as Orchard Veterinary Group is a registered nursing training practice (TP).

I have 2 children, Thomas and Charlotte both at local schools and I am a governor of St John's school, Glastonbury. In my spare time I enjoy walking, a bit of kayaking (this is my boat!) and I’m also trying to learn French.

James became a partner at Orchard Veterinary Group in April 2008 having qualified from the Royal Veterinary College, University of London where he was awarded a distinction in his large animal elective (an extremely difficult achievement in the veterinary course). As well as his veterinary degree he also has a BSc in medical microbiology.

While at college he was captain of the rowing team for two years and an active member of the Territorial Army, he is currently a member of the Bristol Ariel Rowing team. He is a keen sportsman with interests in Karate and scuba diving, a highly qualified musician and has an interest in the restoration of classic motorbikes. Oh yes and he is an extremely competent and popular vet. What he does with the rest of his time I have no idea, youngsters these days!

As if he doesn’t have enough to do James recently married one of our senior nurses Emma and we wish them all the best for the future. The wedding took place on a beautiful Summer’s day at Littlecote House in Wiltshire, Emma looked radiant, James wore a kilt and there was real ale at the bar (which went some way to drown out the vision of James’s knees being constantly on display) - it doesn’t get much better than that!

James Aitken BSc, BVet Med, MRCVS (Veterinary Partner)

Some clients of Orchard Veterinary Group may remember James when he first started with us as a new graduate in 1998. Having extracted from us all relevant and useful information he abandoned us for the lure of the big city (well, Bristol) where he returned to academia at Bristol University Vet School, Langford and added some formal qualifications to his list of already formidable clinical skills.

He is currently studying mastitis in dairy cows and recently been awarded a PhD as well as teaching the next generation of vet students at Bristol University and here at Orchard Veterinary Group.

Not satisfied with merely billowing down the cloistered halls of learning James inveigled himself back into Orchard Veterinary Group while everyone was looking the other way in January 2006. Since then he has been working closely with Martin and with James Aitken on herd health programs for many of our dairy farming clients while getting closely involved at a practical as well as advisory level with the farm side of the practice.

James is an enthusiastic member of our team who is greatly respected by colleagues and clients alike and it’s good to have him “back on board”!

James Breen BVSc PhD DCHP MRCVS (veterinary surgeon, farm animal)

Vicky Joined us in November 2006 having worked previously in a mixed (small and large animal) practice in Dorset. Originally Vicky hails from Devon and she qualified from Bristol Vet School.

After gaining extensive veterinary experience in the UK on both the pet and farm animal sides of veterinary practice and also the odd spell of lambing to help make ends meet Vicky shot off to Belize in Central America to do voluntary work with the dolphin and manatee research project, run by the Oceanic Society.

Previously she had also spent some time working with various veterinary practices in South Africa and we have a picture on file of her apparently having single handedly wrestled a lioness to the ground - respect!

Vicky Hopkins BVSc MRCVS (veterinary surgeon - senior assistant)

Holly Wilkinson BVSc, MRCVS (veterinary surgeon)