Vets

Alison Laurie

Alison is the winner of the 2011 UK vet of the year and we are proud that she is our clinical manager at Crown Vets, Inverness. Alison is our most senior and respected veterinary surgeon and is one of the most caring vets you'll ever meet. She is originally from Largs, in Ayrshire and she qualified from Glasgow Veterinary School in 1983. Alison has a wide experience as a general practitioner, working in both mixed animal and small animal veterinary practice throughout the UK, including Oban, Inverness, Dunvegan and in Worcester, before joining us in 2002. Alison is responsible for the day-to-day management of the clinical team, which includes the nurses and the veterinary staff. Alison’s main interests are small animal medicine, ultrasound and cardiology. Her interest, enthusiasm and dedication within these fields has opened up and improved our diagnostic facilities in-house tremendously over the past few years. Alison is our most senior vet and is our lead vet in the investigation and treatment of heart disease. Alison lives in Drumnadrochit with her son, Calum, and dog, Tilly.

Alistair Cliff

Alistair is our assistant clinical manager. He is originally from Inverness and graduated with distinction from the University of Edinburgh and had worked in the original 'James Heriott' mixed animal practice in Thirsk, Yorkshire before joining Crown Vets in 2008. Alistair is a committed and caring veterinary surgeon and received the Boehringer award for excellence in orthopaedic surgery whilst at University. Alistair has a passion for both orthopaedic and soft-tissue surgery and is studying for a postgraduate certificate in advanced veterinary practice from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. Alistair helps our head veterinary nurse with in-house training of our vet nurse team as well as being our lead vet in small animal dentistry. He also organises monthly clinical-club meetings for our vet & nursing team.

Lorna Matthews

Originally from Perth, Lorna graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 2004. In the past, she has worked in mixed veterinary practice, (domestic and farm animals) in both the Peak District and also in Tain. Along with general medicine, Lorna specialises in dermatology (skin) conditions. Lorna is married to fellow vet, Chris Matthews (Kessock Equine Vets) and they live just outside Inverness with their dog and cat. Lorna also has a part-share in a horse and enjoys riding at weekends.

Samantha Edwards

Samantha graduated from Edinburgh University with an Honours degree in Zoology and continued on at Edinburgh to graduate in Veterinary Science. Samantha has 2 springer spaniels Millie and Charlie and spends her time away from the practice walking them in the local forests. Sam is also a keen trampolinist. Samantha recently attended a Pet dentistry course and is leading our vets in this area.

Marsaili McLaren

Marsaili is originally from Inverness and graduated from Glasgow Veterinary School in 2002. She then worked in mixed animal practice in the north of England before travelling to Australia and New Zealand where she did supply work in a range of different veterinary practices there. Marsaili joined our practice in 2006 and she has a keen interest in internal medicine and diagnostic imaging. Marsaili lives in Nairnshire with her family & pets.

Joanne Simpson

Joanne is a 1997 graduate of Glasgow Veterinary School. After working in mixed animal practice in the Highlands, Aberdeenshire and Australia she joined us in 2002. Joanne is a dedicated vet and is a skilled surgeon. She also has an interest in ophthalmology and when she’s not at work she is busy with her young family on the Black Isle.

Rachel Chandler

Rachel is a director of Crown Vets and she qualified from the University of Edinburgh veterinary school in 2000. Rachel has had a life-long passion for the care of sick or injured animals and it was appropriate that she started her career performing charitable work with the PDSA in the Birmingham area. After a spell in practice in Australia, she worked near her native Edinburgh before heading north to the Highlands. Rachel is one of our dedicated PDSA vets and has an interest and passion in small animal internal medicine. Rachel lives on the Black Isle with her young children, Labrador, cat and husband.

Emily Robson

Emily is originally from Aberdeenshire and comes from a family with a long history in the veterinary profession. Emily works for us at weekends and occasionally during the week and is a very experienced vet in the field of emergency medicine.

Stewart Donald

Stewart was a partner in Burgess & Donald, and Epona, the predecessors of Crown Vets for over 20 years, and saw the practice evolve from mixed work (involving cattle, sheep and horses in addition to dogs and cats) to being purely small-animal. He left the partnership in 2004 to work for the government veterinary agency, Animal Health. He still enjoys clinical work, however, and has returned to Crown Vets as part of the weekend rota. Stewart continues to take part in running and cycling events in his spare time as he does not like admitting to his advancing years!

Lucy Scaife

Lucy is a graduate of Glasgow Veterinary School and she works for us occasionally at weekends and during the week, fitting work around her young family. Lucy lives in Inverness with her husband and three children.

Keith Chandler

Keith Chandler qualified from Glasgow Veterinary School in 1993 and he has worked in both mixed and specialist equine practice in the UK and overseas. He has an RCVS Certificate in Equine Practice and was a lecturer at the University of Edinburgh veterinary school for four years. Since 2004 he has grown and developed Kessock Equine Vets and in 2008 became a director of Crown Vets. He has published widely in the veterinary literature and he served on the British Equine Veterinary Association council for five years including a stint as chair of the influential Dental Working Party and on the CPD sub-committee. Outside of work he is married to fellow vet, Rachel and they have two young children.