Taverham Vets 30-year anniversary party at £1.5m extension

Taverham Vets was founded in 1994 at the childhood home of Roger Bannock and his sister, Joy Thompson, in Fakenham Road.

Sam Floyd and her pet, three-year-old Monty, enjoying celebration at Taverham Vets (Image: Denise Bradley, Newsquest)

With the pair still working at Taverham Vets, it now employs more than 100 staff and has treated more than 50,000 animals across its three decades, with three branches in Taverham, Costessey and Aylsham.

The pair reminisced about how far the surgery had come in the last three decades while celebrating the milestone at the newly built £1.5m extension in Taverham on Thursday, packed out by staff and including a picture booth, drinks and treats for the animals there.

Five-year-old Ethel was one of the many pets at the celebration (Image: Denise Bradley, Newsquest)

Roger said: "We've never rested on our laurels.

"The showpiece of the extension is the addition of a CT scanner, which will improve the diagnostic capabilities of the hospital, as well as two extra theatres for more complex surgery.

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"The original hub of the work area has been converted into dedicated dental suites, a separate cat kennel area and an ultrasound room.

Taverham Vets staff have their photos taken in the Clique Out photo booth, from left: Chantelle Rumsby, hydrotherapy assistant, Abbie Bunting, receptionist and Charlotte Blyth, animal nursing assistant (Image: Denise Bradley, Newsquest)

Samantha Faulkner and her pet, four-year-old Jasper (Image: Denise Bradley, Newsquest)

"Things have moved on so much since 1994 that how we work is almost unrecognisable.

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"There wasn't the technology we have now, especially with drugs and surgical techniques having changed dramatically in the last 30 years."

Gill Taylor and her pet, nine-year-old Ollie, have their picture taken in the Clique Out photo booth (Image: Denise Bradley, Newsquest)

Roger added the business operates around his sister Joy, now the practice director, who "keeps 120 people in line".

Joy recalled her earliest memories of the surgery with her son and daughter, adding: "It doesn’t seem five minutes ago that my daughter, Hannah, was two years old and laying the first brick on the reception desk, while my son was just a few months old in a travel cot in the consulting room.

"Now, 30 years on she's married with two daughters of her own, Bella and Norah, who both love all animals with a passion."

Vet Roger Bannock, front left, who started Taverham Vets, and vet Guy Pitcher, cut the ribbon at their 30-yaer anniversary (Image: Denise Bradley, Newsquest)

Nine-year-old Ollie at the Taverham Vets celebration (Image: Denise Bradley, Newsquest)