Originally from Kilmarnock, Iain undertook his Veterinary training at Glasgow University and qualified in 1971. At the beginning, Iain was employed as much for his rugby prowess as for his Veterinary skills. During his time with the practice, it has expanded considerably, and the work has continued to diversify. Never dull, the job still involves being a mixed practitioner, that is, a hamster one minute, a horse the next…with the occasional bearded dragon! Iain has managed to fit being the Radio Borders Vet. into his busy schedule, and is proud to have been with the station since its launch 18 years ago. His family, who consist of his partner Clare, daughter Fiona, sons Ruaridh and Euan, have also expanded, to include a myriad of pets! Iain now considers himself very much a Borderer and part of the local community.
Harry McKerchar qualified in 1977 from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. He arrived at Gala in August 1977 after a short time in a Small Animal Practice in Edinburgh as a locum and is still here 30 years later.
A true mixed practitioner, but latterly concentrating more on horses and companion animals. He is married to Cath with 2 grown up sons.
Interests away from the practice include rugby, cricket, blasting away on his bagpipes and natural history.
David having grown up in Yorkshire qualified from the Dick Vet in 1987. After working for Robson & Prescott in Morpeth for 2 years he joined Iain and Harry in Galashiels in 1989 with what was then Rogerson & Partners. David's main fields of interest are farm based as he attempts to assist farmers in their strive for profitabilty through disease prevention and control and in so doing maximising production.
Additionally David is a Director of the Veterinary Business Consultancy that is Vetcel and an external examiner for the Dick Vet Farm Animal Department of Edinburgh University.
David is married to Sally and they have 3 children plus far too many horses and sundry other animals collected over the years by a wife who could never say no to a pair of dark brown eyes.
When not with the family or at work David races Snow Mobiles (well only the once actually, and probably won't be allowed back).
Colin qualified from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in 1986. After qualifying he spent his first year in Malawi working on research projects with goats and cattle. He moved to Galashiels in 1990 after 2 years in mixed practice in Cumbria and a short period in New Zealand.
Colin spends most of his time working with companion animals. His main interest is companion animal surgery particularly orthopaedics. He lives in Stow with his wife and 3 children and enjoys playing football, mountain biking and skiing. He is currently learning how to play the guitar properly.
Michael Kyle qualified from Edinburgh in 1986 and after working in a mixture of practices in Northern Ireland, England, New Zealand and Zimbabwe, he settled in the Borders in 1993. He gained the General Practitioners Certificate in Small Animal Medicine from the European School of Post Graduate Studies in 2006. His other main interest include cardiology and farm animal health and production. In addition he has been practicing veterinary acupuncture since 1996, mainly on dogs and horses. Outside work his interests include Scuba diving and mountain biking.
Clare qualified from Edinburgh Vet School in 2007 and joined Merlin (Kelso) in July of the same year. Prior to this she completed a BSc(Hons) in Equine Science at Nottingham Trent University. In between University courses, she worked for 12months as a Horse Feed representative for Winergy Horse Feeds, and carries these horse interests into her free time which she spends with her horse “River”.
Clare is particularly interested in Equine Practice, but enjoys all species of animal.
Clare is happily living with her longterm boyfriend Stuart, and their eight dogs!
David, a recent graduate from Edinburgh, joined the practice in July 2007. He is involved in all areas of the practice, and having grown up on a dairy and sheep farm, particularly enjoys the farm calls with a keen interest in cattle and sheep medicine.
Outside of work David enjoys mountain biking and country walks, although at the moment seems to spend most weekends renovating his new house where he lives with his wife and their two cats..
Showing little in the way of imagination, Neil became the fourth generation of his family to enter the veterinary profession when he qualified from Bristol University in 1996! He has worked in a variety of mixed and large animal practices in the UK, New Zealand and Australia. Veterinary interests include farm animal medicine and surgery and small animal surgery. Having been born and brought up in Kenya, he also has an interest in tropical disease and conservation medicine and has recently completed a PhD in Zambia through Edinburgh Vet School. Having experience in the handling of African wildlife, he should be at home with some of the wilder animals of the border hills!
Neil is married to a vet, Louise and they have a young daughter. Neil enjoys most sports, but particularly golf, tennis, rugby, skiing, long distance running and fly-fishing. Other interests include wildlife and natural history and he enjoys spending time in the remoter parts of this world.
Natalie qualified from Edinburgh Vet School in 2002, and after working in mixed practice in SW Scotland for 18months, joined Merlin (Kelso) in 2004. Her main interests are small animal medicine and surgery and Diagnostic Imaging of all species. Her free time is spent with her husband and children, with the occasional few minutes spent playing various musical instruments, or walking the dogs!
Pete qualified from the Dick Vet in 2007, alongside Dave Allen and Clair Arthur, now colleagues at Kelso. Pete grew up in Ayrshire with a Veterinary background. His father and brother both being Equine Vets. Having enjoyed all aspects of his Veterinary training at Edinburgh, Pete was keen to develop a career in mixed practice. Prior to qualifying Pete saw practice largely at home in Ayrshire and in Angus and has spent 3 months in New Zealand working in a mixed practice and an Equine Hospital. None of which prepared him for the idiosyncrasies of the Scottish Borders - he is still getting used to the idea of playing football with an egg shaped ball.
Outside of work Pete's interests include mountaineering and sailing and when time allows, the more sedate pastime of playing his guitar
Qualified from Glasgow Vet School in 1977 and then worked for a year in practice in Aberdeen before returning home to Duns in 1978 where he has worked since, initially for Ian Peek and then for Merlin following his retirement. No specific interests, just an old fashioned mixed general practitioner. Lives in Gavinton with wife and 2 teenage daughters. Outside of work Alan's main interest (or form of torture) is watching Berwick Bandits speedway team.
Diana qualified in 2005 from London, then worked for a year in mixed practice in Durham. Diana started work in Duns in summer 2006, and is currently on maternity leave. She is married to Richard, a farmer in the Borders, and is the daughter of a Cumbrian farmer so is well suited to mixed practice in this area. We look forward to Diana returning in some capacity when her maternity leave is over.
Iain, somehow, graduated from Glasgow Vet School in 1995 , the holder of the prestigious ' Best Large Animal Handler' prize.
He initially worked for a Dairy and Equine practice in Truro, Cornwall but, in 2000, (after the birth of his daughter ) he moved back to his home town of Kelso to work for Merlin. His equine interests developed further during this time and in 2008 he left Kelso to do solely equine locum work and also train as a McTimoney-Corley Animal Manipulator (Chiropractor) at a college in Witney, Oxfordshire.
In May 2009 , he returned to Merlin where he is based at Kelso and, although working part time, is now responsible for developing and expanding the Equine side of the Practice, although he still enjoys farm work! He intends to combine this with working as an Equine back manipulator.
He is married to Stella and has a daughter, Erin a son, Angus and an ever increasing menagery.
Interests outside work include Rugby (definitely just watching nowadays!), Hillwalking, Surfing, Golf, Running, Good food and playing the Guitar and Fiddle.
Alison qualified from Glasgow Vet School in 1998 then worked in mixed practice in Aberdeenshire for 3 years. Brought up on a farm near Duns, Alison returned to work here in 2001. She enjoys the challenges of both farm and small animal work. In her free time Alison enjoys walking her dogs, watching sport and running.