Our Team
Jeremy French - Director, Vet
Jeremy, married with two children, graduated from Glasgow University in 1986. His first position was as a veterinary assistant at a mixed practice (farm and domestic pets) in Pulborough where he stayed for 2.5 years. He then moved to Littlehampton where he consolidated his surgical skills. Jeremy came to Heene Road in 1989, where he became a partner in 1990 and has remained ever since. He is now the sole Director of both the Heene Road and the Goring Road surgeries.
At home, Jeremy has a wide range of pets including a rhodesian ridgeback, a dalmatian, 4 cats, 2 tortoises, 3 chickens, 2 rabbits and fish. He often brings various waifs and strays home for recuperation. A keen runner, he is often spotted running across Highdown with the dogs. In his spare time, Jeremy is a keen campaigner for the endangered black rhino, and has climbed Kilimanjaro twice to raise money for Save the Rhino International.
"Pets are part of our family, and we recognise the deep affection owners develop for their pets. I feel passionately about their health and welfare and know that all the staff at Heene Road Vets will deliver the standard of care that you and your pet deserve."
Lesley Strong - Vet
Lesley qualified from Edinburgh University (Royal Dick Vet School) in 1985. After graduation, she worked as a Government vet in Northern Ireland and then spent time working in mixed practices (farm and domestic) in the Isle of Man, Wales, Yorkshire and Scotland.
After this, Lesley spent 7 years as a small animal locum vet travelling around the whole of the UK, before finally joining Heene Road Vets in 1998 where she has stayed ever since. Lesley works full-time at the Heene Road branch. She loves the feline fraternity, and has 4 cats, 2 of which are non pedigree and 2 Bengals.
Richard Whittington - Vet
Richard qualified from the Royal Veterinary College, London, in 2001. After three years in mixed practice in Somerset, he spent a year travelling and working in Australia before returning to England and settling in Worthing as a small animal vet. Since 2008 he has developed a special interest in abdominal ultrasonography. Richard joined Heene Road Vets in December 2010 and looks forward to extending the diagnostic imaging service available to our clients.
Outside work he plays badminton and cricket competitively for local clubs, and enjoys spending time with his wife and young family, and especially their West Highland White Terrier Harry.
Claire Mepham - Head Nurse
Claire joined us in November 2010 in the capacity of Head Nurse. She has worked in veterinary practices since 1982, with her passion for pets starting after a week of work experience. She became a Saturday girl and then joined the team as a full time member of staff, qualifying in 1997. Among her qualifications is a diploma in Pet Bereavement Counselling. She works at Crufts as part of an emergency veterinary team. Claire runs our puppy socialisation parties which she enjoys immensely. Claire is very approachable so don't hesitate to ask her if you have any queries.
Claire has four cats, Cobweb (a stray who moved in about 3 years ago), Tuppence and Halfpenny, 11 month old kittens that she hand-reared, and a more recent addition, Dave. She enjoys reading and travelling. After a life-long fear of heights (couldn't even go up a ladder or stand on a chair), Claire decided to combat this and undertook a sponsored abseil in 2006. She began with 80 feet but can now do the cliffs at Peacehaven (120 feet). She aims now to do the Heart sponsored abseil every year. As a more peaceful occupation, Claire has just taken up a new hobby of latch rug making which she is finding highly addictive.
Alison Schreiner - Veterinary Nurse
Alison has worked in vet practices since 1992 and qualified as a Veterinary Nurse in 1997. She joined the Heene Road team 5 years ago and has continually strived to further her academic qualifications and these have included completing a 2 year Hills Nutritional Advisor programme, achieving a City and Guilds in Veterinary Nursing of exotic species and a British Veterinary Nursing Certificate in Dentistry.
In 2009, Alison achieved her Canine Massage Diploma and also her intermediate dog grooming qualification. As an assessor, she is able to mentor the more junior nursing staff as we are a training centre and as such are able to offer placements to trainees. She has a keen interest in the nursing of exotics and wildlife, dentistry, nutrition and physiotherapy.
She has a cat called Charlie, 3 rabbits (Betty, Brian and Barbara), and a 3 legged hedgehog called Richard. She enjoys the gym, swimming and chocolate!
Angela Wase - Veterinary Nurse
Angela started at Heene Road Vets on a Youth Training Scheme through Brinsbury College in 1987. When a position became available for a trainee vet nurse, she decided to swap from an Animal Care course to a Veterinary Nursing one, and subsequently qualified in 1990. She has worked with us ever since.
Angela gave a home to a cat called Jenny who had been a patient at the surgery in 1988. She lived to the grand age of 19 and the family sadly said goodbye to her in 2006. Over the years, Angela has owned (or been owned by....!) two lovely Boxer dogs called Charlie and Eddie. She is currently considering a new canine addition to the family, but is finding time an issue as she is kept so busy by her young son and daughter. She is currently working part-time to allow her to juggle family and work schedules.
Caroline Gosden - Veterinary Nurse
Caroline qualified as a veterinary nurse in 1981 and quickly attained the position of Head Nurse. In a break from nursing she took on the role of manager at a large boarding kennels and cattery before turning her skills to lecturing. During this time Caroline became a qualified assessor and internal verifier for student veterinary nurses. She developed her passion for animal husbandry and has many years experience of developing and managing the extensive animal collection at Brinsbury College. Caroline's particular specialism is in reptile husbandry and she has written several leading texts on the subject for the veterinary nursing profession including 'The Really Useful Book of Reptile Husbandry'.
Caroline brings to Heene Road compassion and dedication as well as her specialist knowledge of exotic animal husbandry. Also, due to her 'time out' from the profession, she has an enhanced understanding and empathy for an owner's perspective.
Sue Griffiths - Veterinary Nurse
Sue qualified as veterinary nurse in 1978 after training at the Blue Cross Animal Hospital in London. She has worked at Heene Road Vets since 1986.
In 1999, Sue qualified as a teacher and now works in SEN (special education needs) with children with emotional needs and challenging behaviours. She is in her second year of training to become a counsellor and has two more years of training ahead of her. As a result, she doesn't get much time for hobbies, but likes walking and reading.
She has a lurcher X doberman called Jade who is 6 years old (very loving but not very bright...) and a nine month old female cat called Tilly who is a monster! She is keen on all animals and would dearly love to own two donkeys.
Lynda Evans - Practice Nurse
Lynda has worked as a nurse for 28 years. Her first practice was at Kingston near Lewes where she worked for 19 years. After this, she worked in Brighton as an emergency out-of-hours nurse for 5 years. She then joined the Heene Road team in 2009 and brings with her a wealth of experience.
Lynda has 3 grown up children and 3 grandchildren whom she adores. She has a golden labrador called Rodney and a cat named Molly. She enjoys cycling, reading, walking and socialising.
Clare Watson - Trainee Vet Nurse
Clare, a busy mother of two, is currently a trainee veterinary nurse in the second year of her training at Heene Road Vets. She was proud to achieve a distinction in her first year. She has 3 cats at home called Rocky, Taz and Evie and a fish called Jim. Clare loves chinese food and chocolate.
Melanie Jones - Practice Manager
Prior to starting work at Heene Road Vets, Melanie worked for a bank for 10 years and subsequently left this post to start a family.
In 1999, Melanie was employed as a receptionist at the surgery which she really enjoyed as she liked dealing with the public and meeting all the animals. In January 2009, she took on the role of Practice Manager and is enjoying the challenges this new position presents.
She likes walking with her border terrier called Ted, although they do have a tendency to get lost and Mel says she's working on her map-reading. She has recently taken up running which both she and Ted enjoy greatly.
Melanie recently attended a mosaic fun evening, and she has decided to look into doing a course later this year.
Gill Barber - Receptionist
Gill has worked at Heene Road Vets as a receptionist for many years. She works at the Goring surgery on Mondays and at Heene Road for the rest of the week. Kept busy by her 14 year old daughter, she enjoys the occasional pub quiz and cooking. Gill is the proud owner of 3 cats called Maisie, Sid and Hugo.
Louise Shanley - Receptionist
Louise has worked at Heene Road Vets for 6 years as a receptionist. She previously gained a huge amount of relevant experience as a GP receptionist for 12 years. She owns 3 border collies called Luca, Jed and Tia which she trains in agility and competes at on a fun basis. Louise is currently training her dogs with a group of friends in fly ball, using a book for instruction, and is hoping to get to a level where they may actually compete!
She also enjoys walking, photography, travel and cooking (particularly baking).
Emma Knapp - Receptionist
Emma has worked at Heene Road Vets as a receptionist for just over 18 months. Prior to this she was employed by the Environment Agency in Worthing as a Senior Facilities Assistant which entailed looking after a building catering for over 300 people. She then worked as a Regional Communications Operator in the 24-hour Regional Communications Control Room, doing weather and flood watches for Sussex, Hampshire and Kent.
Emma has always wanted to work around animals and her enthusiasm for the job shows as she meets and greets our clients and their pets.
Her passions include the feline family and primates - "I would very much like to visit them in the wild and also at the rescue centres around the world."
Angela Hammond - Receptionist
Angela has worked at the Goring branch of our practice as a receptionist for just over seven years. Prior to this, she was employed by BT for twenty-one years beginning as an operator and ending as a technical officer, building and testing software for telephone systems for customer sites. She took early retirement from BT in the year 2000 and in 2001 she worked for West Sussex Doctors on call for six months. After a short break she began working for the Heene Road Vets at the Goring surgery.
Her enthusiasm for the job shows as she meets and greets our clients and their pets and puts the world to rights with them! She lives in Ferring with her husband Dave and their feisty border terrier Dolly. Her spare time is spent taking long walks with Dolly, travelling, reading, dining with friends, watching soaps on the TV and going with her husband to the occasional football match. Dolly's hobbies are eating, long walks, sleeping and sometimes starting "punch-ups" with other dogs. She also adores holidays in Cornwall and in the south of France where she is fluent in "Le Woof"!
"If you're not already a client at our practice come and join us, you won't regret it. I haven't."
Janet Hussey - Receptionist
Before joining the team at Heene Road Vets, Janet's professional life was spent in the N.H.S beginning as an State Registered Nurse. After several years working on male orthopaedic wards she progressed to paediatric nursing and subsequently qualified as a midwife. During her time as a midwife she delivered hundreds of babies including twins and triplets - "a wonderful miracle which always bought tears to my eyes. The best births were home births with everyone very relaxed including Mum to be". Janet wanted to specialize, so took a course in Neo-Natal intensive Care which eventually enabled her to become a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner. She spent the last 10 years as a Practitioner on the Trevor Mann Baby Unit at the Royal Sussex County Hosp in Brighton, which is a centre for excellence in intensive care for the very premature babies and sick full-term babies.
Janet is now working as a Receptionist at our surgery which she enjoys as she is deeply passionate about animals and their welfare. She brings with her a great deal of capability, common sense and compassion. She has 2 dogs named Sophie and Saffie and 3 grand-daughters all under 4 years of age.
