Morven Veterinary Practice

Quality Veterinary Care in Alford and Ballater

We are proud to introduce our team of experienced veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and support staff at Morven Veterinary Practice. As a team we can help you meet all your pet’s health care needs.

A team of passionate and experienced animal experts

Get in touch

We are a registered nurse training practice and have three qualified VetGDP advisers. We enjoy taking school, nursing and veterinary students for work and EMS placements.


To enquire more about a role or placement with us, you can call us on 019755 62339 or email your CV or enquiries to directors@morvenvets.co.uk


Directors

Sarah Niven

Sarah Niven
BVetMed MRCVS
(Director)

Sarah graduated from the Royal Veterinary College London in 2010, and after working in the Isle of Man and Falkirk came to work at Morven Vets in August 2013. She is a mixed practice vet, treating all species of animal, and has a particular interest in small animal surgery.
Erica Cooke

Erica Manning RVN
(Director & Head Nurse)

Erica qualified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse in 2012, and after working in an orthopaedic referral practice has been with Morven Vets since November 2013. She has 2 dogs - Leo and Nettle, and loves taking them for long walks in her spare time. She also has some chickens! Erica is currently studying for a Higher Diploma in Canine behaviour and psychology. Erica is a clinical coach for student nurses.

George Niven

George Niven
BVMS MRCVS
(Director)

George graduated from the University of Glasgow School of Veterinary Medicine in 2013, and worked as a Locum at a number of practices across the northeast of Scotland before joining Morven Vets in August 2019. George enjoys spending his free time with his family and pets. He is a mixed practice vet, treating all species of animal.

Veterinary Surgeons

Neil Crossling

Neil Crossling BVMS MRCVS 

Neil graduated as a vet from the University of Glasgow in 1979 and has worked in Alford since 1985. He founded Morven Veterinary Practice in 1999. He is a mixed practice vet, treating all species of animal. He enjoys hill walking in his spare time.
Sophie Painter

K Sophie Painter
VetMB MSc MRCVS 

Sophie graduated from Cambridge University in 1990, and after a career in mixed practice has been with Morven Vets since September 2011. Sophie is a purely small animal vet and works Wednesdays and Fridays in our Ballater practice and Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays in our Alford practice.
Freya Mathieson

Dr Freya Mathieson
BVMS MRCVS

Freya graduated from the University of Glasgow School of Veterinary Medicine in 2022, and joined us at Morven Vets in September of the same year. Freya is a keen musician enjoying a wide array of instruments. Her hobbies include drawing, knitting and spending time with her horses. She is a mixed practice vet, treating all species of animal.
Rhys Ward

Rhys Ward
BVMS MRCVS

Rhys graduated from the University of Glasgow School of Veterinary Medicine in 2012. Rhys previously work in Alford from 2018 - 2021 and returned in 2025 in his new role as Clinical Development Lead - primarily assisting our recent graduate vets and our students with their clinical and professional development. He is a mixed practice vet, highly experienced with all species of animal.

Robert Mcleod

Dr Robert Macleod
BVM&S MRCVS

Rob graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 2025 and joined Morven Vets in November the same year. In his free time Rob enjoys going to the gym, hiking, and playing golf. He is a mixed practice vet, treating all species of animal.

Jule Enke

Jule Enke MRCVS

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Veterinary Nurses

Katie Thomson

Katie Thomson RVN

Katie joined us in September 2022 and completed her Veterinary Care Assistant course in 2023 with SRUC. In 2026 she completed her Veterinary Nurse training as an apprentice with us via SRUC Oatridge College. She has two cocker spaniels called Ciara and Hamish. In her spare time Katie enjoys socialising with friends and walking her dogs.

Chloe Young

Chloe Young RVN

Chloe joined us in August 2026 having qualified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse in June 2026. She has previously completed her Veterinary Care Assistant training in 2022.
Chloe is a friendly and caring person who particularly enjoys providing excellent patient care in practice.
Outside of work, Chloe enjoys exploring the outdoors with her Golden Labrador, Skye. She also loves biking, cooking and going to the gym.

Morven Meston

Morven Meston RVN

Morven qualified from Barony College with an HND in Veterinary nursing in 2018 and completed her level 6 diploma in animal physiotherapy in 2024.

Morven is an Aberdeenshire lass born and bred. Outside of work she enjoys taking her donkeys carriage driving and taking her collie dog Ben to flyball.


Brooke Irvine

Brooke Irvine SVN

(Student Veterinary Nurse)

Brooke joined us in September 2025 to undertake her VCA training which she completed in May 2026. Brooke started her Nurse training in August 2026. Outside of placement and college she enjoys dancing and horse riding. She has a cat called Gizmo and dog called Louie. 

Support Staff

June Mackie

June Mackie
(Alford Reception)

June is our longest serving receptionist, having joined Morven Vets in January 2007. June has a wealth of experience working here and enjoys the variety that comes with the job.
Hilda Stewart

Hilda Stewart
(Alford Reception)

Hilda is a local girl who was brought up nearby on a farm in Towie. She knows many of our clients personally. Hilda joined Morven Vets in September 2016 and still thoroughly enjoys her work especially meeting and greeting our patients and clients.
Sue Ogg

Sue Ogg
(Alford Reception)

Kim Morrison
(Ballater Reception)

Lucy Michie

Lucy Michie
(Veterinary Care Assistant)

Lucy completed her Level 2 Diploma Veterinary Care Assistant course at SRUC Craibstone in May 2025 and joined us in September 2025. Lucy has a dog called Willow and 2 cats called Holly and Joey. In her spare time Lucy likes to see her friends and listen to music.