Meet our Team







  • Ruth Taylor

    Dr Ruth Taylor

    Clinical director/Veterinary Surgeon

    Cert AVP

    Ruth graduated from Liverpool University in 2011, having trained and worked as a vet nurse for 5 years before applying to vet school.

    She has a specific interest in pain management and dermatology (skin and ears) and has post-graduate qualifications in both subject areas.

    Ruth has lived and worked in the Northwich area for the last 11 years, and has two little Jack Russell crosses called Minnie and Mollie. She looks forward to meeting you and your pets!

  • Deborah Hutton

    Dr Deborah Hutton

    Veterinary Surgeon

    Debbie joined the Willows Group in July 2023, and splits her time between Hamptons and the Firs Veterinary Centres.

    She has 20 years’ experience and like training and mentoring newer graduates. She particularly enjoy soft tissue surgery and emergency and critical care.

    Out of work Debbie can be found walking her dogs, riding her friend’s horse or being mum’s taxi for her 2 boys.

  • Louise Haran

    Louise Haran

    Veterinary Nurse

    Louise qualified as an RVN in 2014 having trained within the Willows Vet Group. She moved to join the team at Kelsall in 2020.

    In her spare time she loves spending time with her young family keeping active in the outdoors! She has a cat called Sky who she hand reared from a week of age, and 2x Guinea Pigs called Pumpkin and Pepsi. In her life before vet nursing she worked with horses and still loves being around them and riding.

  • Amy Hallam

    Amy Hallam

    Student Veterinary Nurse

    Competent Dispenser and BVRA Silver Award

    Amy grew up locally in the small village of Duddon and went to Tarporley High School. She then went on to study Animal Management at Reaseheath College.

    Amy graduated from the University of Wolverhampton in 2018 with a degree in Animal Behaviour and Wildlife Conservation.

    In her spare time she enjoys walking in the countryside with her Cockerdor Skye and she also enjoys animal photography.

  • Lisa Mealor

    Lisa Mealor

    Receptionist/Animal Care Assistant

    Lisa joined us in Summer 2023, having moved up from London.  She has been working in veterinary practice since 2002 and really enjoys meeting clients and their pets!  Lisa lives in Chester with her cat Twinkletoes.  Out of work she enjoys keeping fit and swimming.

  • Katherine Windus

    Katherine Windus

    Receptionist

    Competent Dispenser and BVRA Gold Award

    Katherine grew up in Hertfordshire surrounded by dogs, cats, horses and donkeys, she moved to Cheshire 16 years ago to continue rural life!

    Katherine has a first class degree in equine science and her family now breed event horses.

    At home she has a yellow Labrador called Odin, three cats and she loves walking in the Bickerton Hills.

    Katherine enjoys running and cycling and is looking forward to progressing her knowledge in small animal practice following over 3 years in a farm vet practice.

  • Jan Stocker

    Jan Stocker

    Receptionist and Accounts

    Jan joined the Willows Group in 2018 after many years of being employed in the charity sector. Over the years she and her husband have adopted a number of rescue animals and they currently have two dogs, Lily and Belle.

    Jan has travelled extensively and has an interest in meeting people from different cultures and backgrounds. She enjoys reading, creative writing and maintains her links with the local charity network on a voluntary basis.

  • Judith Fairhurst

    Judith Fairhurst

    Receptionist

    If you pop in to see us on a Saturday, it is very likely you will meet Judith! She is a very experienced receptionist that absolutely adores animals. Judith joined our team in 2019, she owns a very cheeky Maltese cross Poodle who has bags of energy and loves everyone! Judith has achieved her British Veterinary Receptionist Association Bronze Award and her Competent Vet Dispenser Award

  • Kerry McKenna

    Kerry McKenna

    Veterinary Nurse

    Kerry has been with the Willows group for 9 years, and joined us at the Firs at the end of December 2023.  Kerry brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in veterinary nursing.  She particularly enjoys nurse consults and emergency and urgent care cases.

    Kerry lives locally with her partner and two girls as well as six Springer Spaniels and 17 chickens!

  • Sam Stanway

    Sam Stanway

    Veterinary Surgeon

    Sam has been working within the Willows Group for 4 years now and joined us at the Firs a year ago. Previously, she raised her two children, alongside working in other surgeries and at Reaseheath College.

    Sam really enjoys getting to know her patients and their owners.  Outside work, she enjoys going to the music gigs, theatre and socialising with friends