HISTORY:

The Aln Veterinary Group’s origins were in the year 1898 when George Craik MRCVS built a veterinary surgery on Wagonway Road, Alnwick. In the 1930's a Scotman, William Doughty bought the practice. During the 1940's Duncan Macphearson, affectionaltely known as ‘Mac’, worked as an assistant with William Doughty and in 1947 he broke away to set up his plate at Hampden House on Belvedere Terrace.

Bobbie Muir, an Ayrshireman, moved from Herefordshire to assist William Doughty in 1947-48 when Mac left. After Mr Doughty retired a local man, Gerald Curry, who had been working in Beverley returned to his roots to become Bobbie Muir's partner- (Muir & Curry M'sRCVS). In 1968, two more Northumbrians joined the practice as assistants who remained to become partners- Alan Clark & Peter Malone. Both became established Large Animal practitioners until their retirement in the mid 1990's. During the early 1960's small animal practice was becoming more popular and a branch in Amble was opened where consults were seen 3 days per week.

Bobbie Muir retired in 1982 when local farmer's son David Young joined the partnership after working as an assistant for 4 years. Gerald Curry retired soon afterwards and in 1988 John Macfarlane became a partner.

Colin Barwise- Munro joined the partnership in 1991 from lecturing at Edinburgh University. Graeme Thirlwell replaced Peter Malone as a partner until his tragic accident in 2002. Colin retired from the partnership in 2005 and his wife Lesley Barwise-Munro along with Joseph Henry, both of whom had been with the practice since graduation, became partners.

Northumbria Veterinary Partnership was formed in July 2004 by the merger of two long-established veterinary practices; Hampden & Simonside Veterinary Group with surgeries in Alnwick, Rothbury and Morpeth and the Wooler-based Ewing & Gidlow.

Duncan Macphearson ‘Mac’ opened the Veterinary surgery at Hampden House, Alnwick, in 1947. Following an illustrious career he passed the practice on to Dick and Rosie Thompson in 1988, both are still practicing today. Meanwhile, at Rothbury, Paul Freeman was busy building up the Simonside Veterinary surgery and at Wooler Jo Gidlow joined the partnership there. Andrew Sawyer joined the partnership in 1989 and the Hampden and Simonside Veterinary Group was formed.

Dominic Plumley joined the partnership in 2000 following 5 years as an assistant at Alnwick and in 2004, Steven Carragher joined the partnership after 6 years as an assistant, also at Alnwick.

The merger of Aln Veterinary Group and Northumbria Veterinary Partnership reunites an historic professional partnership in Northumberland. By combining the considerable resources of the two practices, Alnnorthumbria Veterinary Group will strive to provide the highest possible level of care for all your animals.

 

The practice provides a full range  of veterinary care and treatment for game birds