Meet the team
Gordon Slater
Veterinary Surgeon
BVMS MRCVSGordon is from Ayrshire, and graduated from Glasgow University in 1987. After a couple of years in mixed practice in Scotland, he moved to Manchester for a short period of time, then West Yorkshire, starting here at Shearbridge in 1989.
He spends most of his spare time out walking with his dogs and holidaying in the Outer Hebrides, which provides a lot of inspiration for his wildlife and landscape photography.
Sarah Reeves
Veterinary Surgeon
BVSc MRCVSSarah is from Lancashire and graduated from Liverpool University. Sarah initially spent some time travelling around the world, while also working as a Veterinary Surgeon in a number of practices. She has been settled here at Shearbridge since 2009 and was promoted to Clinical Manager in 2017. Sarah is a particularly skilled soft tissue surgeon with a keen interest in small animal medicine and surgery. Sarah's free time is presently taken up with a young family, but she is a keen cyclist, and traveller! Sarah has also recently achieved her Masters of Business Administration (MBA) with distinction from York St John University business school.
Sabine Langer
Veterinary Surgeon
Mag.phil MRCVS DrDr Sabine is from beautiful Austria where she studied a masters in languages, gaining a teaching degree. She later went on to gain her degree and a doctorate in veterinary medicine in the 1990's in Vienna. Dr Sabine joined the practice in November 2017, she has 20 years experience previously working for the PDSA. She has an interest in both medicine and surgery. Sabine has a love for all animals big and small and she is passionate about charity and rescue work. She spends her spare time walking her rescue dog Ronaldo, as well as walking dogs at a rescue centre.
Dr Becky Colley
Veterinary Surgeon
MA VetMB MRCVS GPCert(SAM)Becky is from Sheffield and graduated from Cambridge University in 2012. She enjoys all aspects of general practice and in 2018 gained her post graduate certificate in small animal medicine.
Becky spends her time away from work raising her young children and enjoys anything that involves being in the great outdoors.
Becky is currently on maternity leave and we look forward to welcoming her back next year.
Kathy Bailey
Head Veterinary Nurse
RVN CertFN ISFMKathy is our head nurse and was born in Liverpool but grew up in Bradford. She has been with the practice since 1986 and managed our Hipperholme branch surgery from 2010 until shortly before it closed. She is very experienced and approachable. Kathy runs our weight clinics and is very successful with them, she also helps Sarah run the puppy parties. In her spare time she enjoys caring for her family. In recent years Kathy gained her certificate in feline nursing and is thinking about her next challenge.
Gayle Ball
Veterinary Nurse
RVNGayle has been training and working as a veterinary nurse since she left school! While Gayle is originally a local lass she moved back to the area and joined the surgery in 2015 after some years as Head Nurse of a North Yorkshire Dales Veterinary Practice. We are now benefiting from her many years of experience, and lovely disposition. Gayle is in charge of our diabetic clinics. Gayle is also wears the hat of Practice Manager when she's not nursing.
Gayle is very busy in her spare time with her young family and many pets.
Sarah Hosty
Veterinary Nurse
RVN CertFN ISFMSarah joined the surgery in 2008 after working at a busy practice in Huddersfield for 3 years and qualifying as a Veterinary Nursing Assistant with a distinction. She subsequently qualified as a Veterinary Nurse with us here at Shearbridge in 2010. Sarah has a keen interest in the young and elderly and has been running our puppy parties with Kathy since 2010. After launching Senior Clinics at the surgery in 2011, she became our dedicated Senior Pet Nurse for Shearbridge in 2018. Look out for her posts on our Facebook and Instagram pages! Sarah enjoys looking after her young family in her spare time, her 4 rescue cats Patsy, Rupert, Little My and Amelia. Recently Sarah completed her feline nursing certificate and passed with a distinction!
Lisa Best
Veterinary Nurse
RVNLisa joined the practice in 2020 from a busy 24 hour hospital in Leeds, having worked in the veterinary profession since 2006. She has a particular interest in exotic species and has recently completed the Girling and Fraser diploma in veterinary nursing of zoological species. In her spare time she enjoys walking, running, bouldering, snowboarding, travelling and exploring new places. At home she is the proud owner of a cockerpoo called Ted, 2 snakes called Leah and Chilli and various invertebrates.
Nicole Paszko
Veterinary Nurse
RVNNicole joined our nursing team in 2021, having qualified in 2007. She enjoys both the surgical and medical aspects of the job. Outside of work Nicole enjoys spending time with her family, including her young sons and her two cats.
Bethanie Hartley-Havers
Veterinary Nurse
RVNBeth has been in the profession since 2010 and qualified in 2017. She trained in an exotic referral practice and has since spent time as an inpatient nurse at a large emergency and referral hospital in Manchester, before moving into charity work with the PDSA in Leeds.
Beth enjoys walking, running and horse riding. She has two young daughters as well as two rescue cats (Nala and Esmeralda) and a working spaniel (Penny).
Stephanie Steel
Veterinary Nurse
RVNSteph joined the practice in 2022 after working in busy hospitals.
In her spare time she enjoys crafting, going to concerts and spending time with her Patterdale Terrier, Jack Russell cross Dachshund and her two rabbits.
Melissa Talbot
Veterinary Care Assistant
Mel has joined us from the reception team at another vet practice to be in a more hands on role as our new Veterinary Care Assistant (VCA).
In her spare time she loves going out and exploring new walks to find the perfect spot for photos with her vizsla and doggy friends.
Mel is currently on maternity leave and we look forward to welcoming her back next year.
Lucy Bashforth
Support Staff
Lucy works on reception at Queensbury. She deals with the pet insurance as well as other tasks. Lucy is particularly approachable, has lots of experience, and skills in veterinary nursing too, and loves chatting to clients. Lucy is also currently working towards her veterinary practice administration course (VPAC).
Julie Sutcliffe
Support Staff
AVRJulie also works on reception. She has not been with us for as long as some of the others, having started work with us in 2010. Julie rapidly showed herself to be a great asset as a front of house person, clearly loving her job, and being particularly good communicating with our clients. Julie has recently gained her Accredited Veterinary Receptionist Gold award as well as level 2 for Veterinary Administration certificate. Outside of work Julie loves spending time with her family and doing crochet and cross stitch.
Julie Allen
Support Staff
Julie works on our reception team, she loves pets and is a very easy person to speak to. Julie is a great support for owners with her general pet experience.
Angela Crabbe
Support Staff
Angela works evenings on reception. She lives nearby, and has been with us for many years, and now knows most of the clients very well. Her long experience working with us shows in the calm and pleasant way she helps our clients and their pets.
Claire Barker
Support Staff
Claire works on reception. She has been with us a number of years, and has her 2 dogs Rosie and Teddy, and cat Christopher.
Sharon Pickles
Support Staff
Sharon joined our reception team in 2021 after leaving the beauty industry. In her spare time, Sharon enjoys spending time with her family and going for walks in the countryside.
