Meet the Team - Reception

Joanne Brown - Head Receptionist

Joanne joined Capontree straight from school, when the practice was still on Longtown Road, and after a spell both nursing and as a member of our support staff, is now our head receptionist, working primarily with our farm clients at Brampton.

Joanne has two children and is married to Peter, who farms locally.


Joanne Wigham

Joanne joined the practice straight from school in 1997 when the new purpose built building at Brampton opened.  She began her work as a trainee veterinary nurse but later joined the administration team where she now continues her role.  Joanne lives with her husband John and 2 daughters on the family farm in Northumberland. She has always had an interest in animals and their welfare.  During her spare time, Joanne enjoys spending time with her family and friends and can often be heard from St James Park supporting her local football team…Newcastle United!!


Val Bowman

Val joined the practice in 2004 and can be found working on reception at both our Brampton and Haltwhistle branches.

Together with her husband, Val, farms a beef and sheep farm, near Brampton. 


Margaret Main

Margaret joined the practice in 2009 after moving with her husband and son to farm in Bewcastle.

Brought up on a farm in Lanarkshire, Margaret married Neil and moving to a hill farm on the West Lothian and Lanarkshire border where they raised their son and daughter.

She plays an active role on the farm and enjoys time spent walking her 2 dogs JC and TK.

Margaret has many hobbies including baking and crafts, and competing at local shows.

Since moving to the area has taken up social/ceilidh dancing and enjoys meeting up in the local village hall at weekends. 


Megan Williams

Megan joined the Capontree Vets team in February 2010. Initially a part time member of our reception staff, she has continued to increase the hours which she works.  Megan divides her time between both Brampton and our Haltwhistle branch, where she can be found greeting our small animal clients on reception.  Megan is also involved in the running of our social media pages. 

Megan, who lives in Haltwhistle, spends a lot of her spare time catching up with friends and family.  She also enjoys taking holidays abroad seeking the sunshine and a taste of different cultures; having sampled Africa she is now looking to visit parts of Asia.


Sarah McInnes

**Sarah is currently on maternity leave**

 

Sarah joined our reception team in 2018 and will be seen mainly at Brampton and Haltwhistle surgeries. 

Sarah is an avid animal lover;  when she isn’t working she is busy volunteering for a dog rescue charity.


Lauren Ware

Lauren joined us in July 2022 as part of our Reception Team and is based at our Longtown and Brampton branches. 

Lauren has had a variety of jobs, all focusing on animals of one form or another. After growing up around Penrith working with her family's flock of sheep and always having dogs and cats at home, animals no matter how big or small were always her passion. Firstly, working on a dairy farm just outside Penrith for two years after leaving school and studying Agriculture at Newton Rigg College. To becoming an AI technician, after gaining great enthusiasm and interest for breeding and fertility in cattle, she went to work for Semex and travelled all around Cumbria to help farms with their progeny for number of years. Looking for a change post Covid, Lauren tried her hand in the world of Bee Farming, unfortunately wasn't meant to bee.

Her interests are as much inside as out. Such as going for walks, gardening, trying to keep fit, crafts and curling up with a good film or book alongside her beloved cats Delilah & Dorothy. 

Lauren is fond of change, so you can never be too sure what colour her hair will be from one week to the next, but don't be afraid to ask her about it. 


Vicky Walton

Vicky joined the Capontree reception team in July 2022 and will be based mainly at the Brampton and Haltwhistle surgeries. 


Jacqui Mason

Jacqui joined the Capontree team at the end of 2022 and will be working mainly at the Brampton and Haltwhistle surgeries


Jeanette Laidlow

Jeanette joined our team at Capontree towards the end of 2022. She works mainly on the small animal reception at Brampton and Haltwhistle. 


Marie Wilshaw

Marie joined the team at Capontree in June 2023. She will be working on both the small animal and large animal reception at both Longtown and Brampton. 


Vikki Glaister

Vikki joined the team in October 2023 as our practice Administrator. She is the point of contact for your pets insurance claims and client accounts. Vikki has over 20 years experience of undertaking different roles within the veterinary practice. She is Petplan trained and has a wealth of veterinary related qualifications.

Vikki has a love for cats and has several at home who live happily with her chocolate lab Luna .

Vikki is very keen Newcastle United supporter which is reflected in her black and white themed office. Vikki has a love of football and audiobooks.


Helen Dodd

Helen joined the Capontree reception team in January 2024 and will be working mainly at Brampton on both the large and small animal teams.