A Brief History Of The Willows Veterinary Group
The Willows Veterinary Partnership a brief look back!
A veterinary practice has existed in Hartford since the 1930s. Todays modern practice dates from 1962, when Derek Carter, who had graduated from Liverpool in 1961, came to assist John Twist formerly of Wilson and Twist.
In those days it was a three-man farm practice, which ran a small animal surgery each Sunday morning. However Gareth Llewellyn, also a Liverpool graduate from 1961, soon joined Derek and immediately developed the emerging small animal side. John Twist eventually left in 1964, thereby creating the Carter-Llewellyn partnership. This was further expanded in 1966, when Gareth Williams arrived again another Liverpool graduate and college friend.
The small animal business prospered at Hartford, and was awarded the status of Small Animal Veterinary Hospital in 1968 one of the first in the North of England. Meanwhile an additional surgery was started in Winsford and a neighbouring practice in Weaverham was purchased.
Mike Venables joined the partnership in 1969. He was originally a vet from the adjacent Alsager practice. This completed the nucleus of the original partnership. A period of rapid expansion followed, fuelled by revenue from Ministry funding relating to the Brucellosis and TB eradication schemes of the 1970s. An additional farm practice was purchased in Middlewich and a new surgery established there. New surgeries were added in Lymm and Warrington.
Mike Venables retired from farm practice in the late 70s and instead concentrated on pioneering the establishment of a small animal centre in Knutsford.
The farm practice continued to expand with the addition of work from two established practitioners Rodney Summer in South Liverpool and Hugh Ferguson from Warrington.
Alex Scott joined the practice in 1978. Whilst originally a farm vet, he left this part of the practice to single handedly create the equine branch of the group. It was his inspiration that led to the building of Ashbrook Equine Hospital, at Allostock now a leading referral centre with state of the art facilities.
Mark Proctor joined in 1980 and developed the Southern area of the farm practice, culminating in the eventual purchase in 1992, of a neighbouring farm practice in Tarporley. He also developed a new venture - a separate animal health business and Beeston Animal Health was established in 1994.
Morag Adams joined in 1981 and consolidated the small animal practice at Hartford, making it into the modern facility enjoyed by clients today. Morag has latterly moved to pastures new.
The Hartford hospital continues to deal with both routine and referral work from other practices. John Williams, a recognised European surgical specialist, provides a high calibre second opinion service known as Oakwood Referrals - a growth area in the Practice today. Charlie Sale our resident orthopaedic surgeon has recently gained his European Diploma in Small Animal Surgery and works alongside John.
John Dawson joined in 1986 and he concentrated on expanding the northern area of the farm practice. In addition he created our cattle embryo transfer business Embryonics. He continues to organise various courses for farmers and vets alike, including the teaching of artificial insemination, ultrasonograhy and the foot trimming of cattle.
Simon Jones joined the farm side in 1987. He has also expanded our interests considerably within the meat hygiene arena and we now supervise the animal welfare in several major abattoirs.
The surgery in Warrington, known as Beech House was moved from Stockton Heath to a more central location in 1988. The relocation package involved considerable modernisation and expansion, which was supervised and inspired by Liz Crowsley - small animal vet who had joined the partnership in 1990. Liz is now principal vet at the small animal hospital at Hartford.
Gareth Williams extended the pig sector of the farm partnership. Richard Thomas joined the partnership in 1997 and took on this role. Richard is the key partner responsible for supervising all our properties within the group.
The most recent Partnership expansion has been in the purchase of small animal surgeries. Wimslow in 1999, Runcorn in 2001, West Kirby and Greasby on the Wirral in 2001 were all added to the portfolio. Second practices in Northwich and Warrington plus a surgery in Hale were bought in 2004, increasing the size of the group yet further.
To conclude - the three man farm practice which started in 1962 has now become a thriving 40 plus vet, multi disciplinary team covering 15 centres employing over 140 people.
In the last three years four new partners have been appointed. Ben Pedley in the farm partnership, Andrew Carnell at Ashbrook, Sean Cleary and Ian Hopkins in the small animal division.