Sonya qualified as a veterinary surgeon from Cambridge University, and joined Darwin Veterinary Centre in 2000. Together with her husband Richard, they took over the running of the practice in 2002, and have significantly extended, refurbished and modernised the practice, bringing it up to its current ‘Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Accredited Tier 2’ status.

Sonya enjoys all aspects of veterinary practice, but has a particular interest in surgery and ophthalmology. She successfully studied for and passed a Certificate in Ophthalmology in 2010. She also holds a veterinary nurse training qualification, and leads the team of nursing assessors at the practice.

Sonya and Richard have two young children: daughter Breya, born in 2007, and son Oliver, born two years later, who keep them on their toes when not at the practice. The family is completed by Willow, an elderly but still naughty Jack Russel Terrier bitch, who arrived via Last Chance Animal Rescue with a broken pelvis in 1999, and Tangle, an elderly, blind, cross-breed dog.

With her work, young family, pets and following major renovation of their Edwardian home, Sonya can no longer remember what she did in her spare time!

Kyley joined the practice in 2003, qualified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse from the College of Animal Welfare in 2008, to subsequently become Head Nurse. She leads our dedicated team of five nurses and helps with the day-to-day running of the practice. Kyley is involved in all aspects of nursing, but has particular interest in ethology (animal behaviour) and hopes to undertake a qualification in this area in the near future. Kyley also enjoys looking after and hand-rearing the many and unfortunate abandoned animals that frequently pass through the practice - she and her team had many successes hand-rearing and re-homing kittens, puppies, a fox and numerous birds.

Outside of work, most of Kyley's time is spent with her horses, Philly and Kelpi, and their foals Kizzi and Chancer, who were born in the summer of 2007. Kyley is looking forward to backing the youngsters herself this year, and hoping to develop them as successful show jumpers.