Mercer and Hughes
– Saffron Walden

Ashley RVN

Head Registered Veterinary Nurse

Ashley qualified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse in 2017 and is our dedicated Head Nurse. She began her career in a busy charity hospital, where she gained valuable experience caring for animals in need and developed a strong foundation in clinical nursing. Ashley is currently working towards a certificate in physiotherapy and rehabilitation, with a particular passion for improving mobility and quality of life for pets recovering from injury, surgery or chronic conditions. She is committed to the wellbeing and recovery of every patient in her care.

Catherine Hurst MRCVS

Veterinary Surgeon

Corrine Millington MRCVS

Veterinary Surgeon

Erica Fontan PgCert SAM MRCVS

Veterinary Surgeon

Riven Segall BVM BVS MRCVS

Veterinary Surgeon

Riven joined Mercer and Hughes as a veterinary surgeon in early 2025 after graduating from the University of Nottingham. They are currently developing their skills in small animal surgery and consultations, with a keen interest in exotic pets and British wildlife. At home, Riven enjoys time with their lovely dog, Pippa, and hopes to welcome guinea pigs back into the family soon.

Sarah Catling MRCVS

Veterinary Surgeon

Sarah has been a valued member of the Mercer and Hughes veterinary team for many years. She is based at the Saffron Walden surgery, where she focuses on consultations, and is dedicated to delivering compassionate, personalised care to both pets and their owners.

Siân Drage

Registered Veterinary Night Nurse

Siân qualified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse in 2016, after studying at Anglia Ruskin University and the College of West Anglia. She has experience in referral, general practice and hospital settings, and joined Mercer and Hughes in 2023. Siân now works predominantly as a night nurse at our Saffron Walden practice. She has a strong interest in feline medicine, behaviour, medical management and exotic species, and is passionate about delivering high standards of inpatient care. At home, she shares her life with three cats, three ferrets and a tank of tropical fish.

Emma Trehearn

Registered Veterinary Nurse

Emma joined Mercer and Hughes in 2018 as a Consult and Auxiliary Nurse Assistant. She went on to train as a Registered Veterinary Nurse and is now working towards a certificate in Surgical Nursing, developing her advanced skills in Schedule 3 procedures. Emma is passionate about delivering high-quality patient care and building strong relationships with owners. At home, she has a senior labrador named Shadow and two cats, Marmalade and Misty, who were both strays brought into the practice. Emma looks forward to greeting your pets with plenty of tummy rubs and chin scratches!

Flora Tuck

Registered Veterinary Nurse

Flora has been part of the Mercer and Hughes team for five years, starting as a Consult Assistant before qualifying as a Registered Veterinary Nurse in spring 2024. She enjoys all aspects of nursing but has a particular interest in inpatient care – and a soft spot for cats! At home, Flora shares her life with three cats and two small dogs.

Amanda Robinson RVN

Registered Veterinary Night Nurse

Amanda qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2006 and has worked in both general practice and referral hospitals. After initially joining Mercer and Hughes in 2016, she returned in 2022 following time spent gaining additional experience at an orthopaedic referral centre. Amanda enjoys all aspects of medical and surgical nursing and finds delivering high-quality patient care incredibly rewarding. Outside of work, she keeps busy with her two dogs, five cats, and a passion for wildlife rehabilitation.

Natalie Anthony

Registered Veterinary Nurse

Natalie joined Mercer and Hughes in 2018 as a Consult Assistant and qualified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse in 2022. She enjoys supporting both pets and their owners through all stages of care and has a particular soft spot for small furries and wildlife.

Ella Calder

Student Veterinary Nurse

Ella began her journey at Mercer and Hughes as a Consult Assistant in 2022 and started her student veterinary nurse training in March 2025. She is thoroughly enjoying learning new skills and particularly loves working with dogs and rabbits. Ella has a keen interest in inpatient care and takes pride in giving lots of love to pets when they’re feeling under the weather. At home, she’s kept busy by her energetic spaniel and affectionate labrador.

Becca Crooks BScRVN

Registered Veterinary Nuse

Becca qualified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse in 2022 after graduating from Middlesex University. She is currently working towards a Foundation Award in Medical Nursing, reflecting her strong interest in internal medicine. Becca enjoys using her knowledge to support the care and recovery of inpatients with a range of medical conditions, and has a particular soft spot for senior cats. At home, she shares her life with two cats, three geckos and two snakes.

Fiona Watkins

Client Support Administrator

Fiona has been part of the Mercer and Hughes team for over 11 years, initially joining as a receptionist and now working as a Client Support Administrator. Before her time in practice, Fiona worked in the police service. She shares her life with Meg, a border collie trained in search and rescue, who worked with Essex Search and Rescue under Fiona’s guidance. Fiona loves welcoming clients and their pets at reception and enjoys the variety that each day brings.

Claire Wright

Veterinary Care Assistant

Claire joined Mercer and Hughes in 2018 as Head Receptionist. Inspired by the work of the clinical team, she stepped into a new chapter by beginning her Veterinary Care Assistant (VCA) apprenticeship with the College of Animal Welfare. Claire now works in a dual role, supporting both clients and the clinical team as a Client Support Administrator and VCA. She enjoys the variety this brings – balancing hands-on patient care with client support – and is currently working towards her goal of becoming a Student Veterinary Nurse and, in time, a Registered Veterinary Nurse.

Grace Rooke

Registered Veterinary Nurse

Grace began her journey at Mercer and Hughes in 2019 as a consult assistant before starting her veterinary nurse training in 2020. She qualified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse in November 2022. Grace has a keen interest in pet weight clinics and caring for hospitalised patients, and she is currently working towards a Foundation Award in Medical Nursing. At home, she has a lurcher and lives on a smallholding with plenty of cows and sheep to keep her busy!

Annie Russell

Student Veterinary Nurse

Annie is currently training as a Student Veterinary Nurse at Mercer and Hughes and is also a qualified Veterinary Care Assistant (VCA). She enjoys building her knowledge and practical skills while supporting both the team and patients throughout their care journey.

Brittany Singer

Student Veterinary Nurse

Brittany joined Mercer and Hughes in 2019, initially working on reception and supporting in consults. Three years ago, she began her student veterinary nurse training, combining her passion for animal care with hands-on clinical experience. Now in the final stages of her training, Brittany is focused on developing her skills and knowledge to provide the highest standard of care for her patients. She’s excited to continue learning and delivering great care to every pet who comes through the door.

Georgia RVN NCert(Anaesthesia)

Registered Veterinary Nurse

Georgia qualified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse in 2021 and holds a certificate in anaesthesia, highlighting her strong interest in anaesthetic safety and pain management. She also supports the next generation of nurses as a Clinical Supervisor for Student Veterinary Nurses, helping guide their training and development in practice.

Susan Orton

Registered Veterinary Nurse

Susan has been part of the Mercer and Hughes team for five years, having started as a consult assistant before qualifying as a Registered Veterinary Nurse in 2023. She has a particular interest in surgical cases but enjoys all aspects of working in the clinical environment. Susan is currently working towards an advanced certificate in surgical nursing. At home, she’s kept busy by two dachshunds, a labrador and two rabbits.

Lesley Cross

Client Support Administrator

Katie Bada RVN

Registered Veterinary Nurse

Christina Watson

Client Support Administrator

Susan Tate

Client Support Administrator

Jess Gibson

Client Care and Nursing Assistant

Jess has worked in veterinary clinics since 2015, including a year at Paradise Wildlife Park. After graduating from the RVC with a degree in BioVeterinary Sciences in 2022, she joined Mercer and Hughes as a Client Care and Nursing Assistant. Jess supports consultations and assists the nursing team wherever needed. She loves pets of all sizes—but has a particular soft spot for really big dogs.

Anne Coker

Client Support Administrator

Anne has been part of the Mercer and Hughes team since 2018, starting as a receptionist and now working as a Client Support Administrator. She enjoys the variety her role brings and loves supporting clients and their pets. While she doesn’t currently have any animals at home, Anne has previously had a flat coat retriever and two labradors, and hopes to welcome another dog in the future.

Shannan Clarke

Student Veterinary Nurse

Shannan joined the Mercer and Hughes team in 2021 as a consult assistant, working alongside veterinary surgeons to support them during consultations. In 2023, she began training as a student veterinary nurse and is now approaching her final exams. Shannan has a real passion for patient care, with particular interests in surgical nursing and inpatient support. Outside of work, she volunteers at a local animal rescue and shares her home with a small group of much-loved cats. She hopes to pursue further qualifications in anaesthesia and feline behaviour after qualifying.

Rachel

Veterinary Surgeon

Rachel graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2012. Having spent several years working elsewhere in the UK, Isle of Wight and abroad, she settled in the area in 2023 to be closer to family. She joined Mercer and Hughes as locum in 2024 and liked it so much she decided to stay! Rachel has a particular interest in more complex cases, gaining her Post Graduate Certificate in Emergency Medicine and Surgery in 2021, going on to become as RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Emergency and Critical Care. More recently, Rachel has taken up an interest in Dermatology, having recently started a certificate in this. Outside of work she is kept busy by her naughty (but very cute) cavalier King Charles spaniel called Dolly.