Introducing Our Practice Team

Charlotte Clough

BVet Med CertSAD MRCVS

I grew up in a small farming community in South Derbyshire and having been fascinated by animals and birds of all sorts from an early age, only ever wanted to be a vet. Having qualified from the Royal Veterinary College London in 1985 I worked in a number of practices whilst gaining an extra Dermatology qualification in 1993. This was followed by part time general work and Dermatology referrals whilst my children were young. I helped out with the 2001 Foot and Mouth crisis and then most recently worked as a general practitioner in the very busy Barn Animal Hospital in North Hampshire from 2001 to 2015 . This was combined with running a small family farm with Dexter cattle and sheep for 16 years.

Having spent many holidays on the West Coast of Scotland I was delighted to have the opportunity to join the very special community on Arran, taking over the veterinary practice on 20th April 2015. I am privileged to continue to do the job I love in such a beautiful part of the world, with such supportive clients and I am really enjoying the great variety of animals and birds that make up my patients on Arran.

When not working I have been enjoying the wonderful scenery, walking and bird watching with Border Collie, Ted. I also keep a few chickens, outside aviary birds and two cats. These are occasionally joined by recuperating wild birds before release, one released Barn Owl loitering in the forestry around the house for many months in 2019

Matthew Palmer

Veterinary Surgeon

BVSc MSC MRCVS

Matt grew up in the south of England and qualified as a vet in 2015 from Liverpool University. He then spent a year gaining an MSC in fish science.

In addition to his veterinary work he continues a life long interest in art, in wildlife and in exploring wild places.

He started work at Arran Vets in January 2025. He is looking forward to growing into the unique role of an island mixed vet and to being a part of Arran’s supportive community.

He will be working every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and some weekends and looks forward to meeting you all and finding his way around the island.

Matthew Palmer BVSc MSC MRCVS is pictured here with RVN Ellis Mckelvie

Gemma Ferguson

Gemma Ferguson joined Arran Vets right at the beginning in May 2015 so her hard work has helped make the surgery what it is now. She gained a Veterinary Care Assistant Diploma from the College of Animal Welfare in April 2017 , followed by a City & Guilds Level 2 Certificate in Assisting Veterinary Surgeons in the Monitoring of Animal Patients under Anesthesia and sedation in 2019, when she was the best student in her year.

Gemma has recently gained the College of Animal Welfare SQP qualification and is now a Small animal Medicine Advisor, happy to help with any worm, flea and tick prevention requests.

Gemma has grown up on Arran and always wanted to be a veterinary nurse. When not at work she is kept very busy with her young family but still finds time to volunteer with the Coastguard . The latest addition to the Ferguson household is Amber , a diminutive but determined cross breed puppy, born on Arran , who joins Rambo and Rocky who arrived at the surgery as abandoned starving kittens.

Ellis Mckelvie

RVN

Ellis graduated as a Registered Veterinary Nurse September 2024 .

Ellis did Arran proud and passed her course with a Distinction and won an award for the best Student in her cohort. She is now back working at the surgery full time.

Ellis enjoys walking, running and riding when not at work and has two cats Tink and Jim and a very lively cockerpoo Gus who also loves running!

Roisin Ballantyne

Roisin is now away at University studying for a course in Veterinary Nursing.