JONATHAN Wood Veterinary

Practice will be

having an Open Day at

its Barnstaple Cross surgery

to celebrate the 60th

anniversary of the Wood

Veterinary Practice and to

mark the "official" opening

of the practice's new reception

area.

In 1953 Mr Roy Wood

Veterinary Surgeon set up

practice in Western Road

Crediton.

In true James Herriot

style he used his desk

for the bill writing in

the morning, it was then

cleared of paper and used

as an operating table later

in the day!

The daily round used

to be up to 40 farm visits

shared by Mr Wood and

Harry Dent and covering a

large area of Mid Devon.

The practice moved in

1955 to the current out of

town site at Barnstaple

Cross and was divided in

the 1960's with Mr Dent

taking charge of the western

side of the A377 and

Mr Wood carrying on the

other side and based in

Crediton.

The practice moved in

1955 to the current out of

town site at Barnstaple

Cross.

In the early 1970's, with

Jonathan Wood about to

join his father from college,

a specialised Veterinary

Surgery was built at the

Barnstaple Cross site.

The surgery facilities

have been upgraded and

expanded on a regular

basis, with the most recent

being the addition of a new

reception and consulting

suite.

The new reception,

which includes both cat

and dog waiting areas as

well as the consultation

rooms, was designed by

Jonathan and Caroline

Wood's son, Nick, who is a

qualified architect.

The works were completed

by John Smith of

Wharncliff Builders, from

Tiverton.

Senior Vet and managing

director, Jonathan and

Mrs Wood, who is co-managing

director and practice

manager, would like to

invite all their clients and

their families to the Open

Day on Saturday, August

31, starting at 12 noon and

running until 4pm.

There will be various

stalls and activities

throughout the afternoon,

including a trivia quiz,

with prizes, for everybody.

Equine clients will be

able to test their bridle

assembly skills – fastest

time wins a made-to-order

brow- band for their horse

and farmers can test their

expertise with Guess the

weight of a sheep?

In the Water Treadmill

suite there will be a chance

to view demonstrations

of dogs under-going their

therapy sessions with the

pratice's qualified veterinary

staff.

Lapford Dog Club will

be putting dogs through

their paces over their agility

course with plenty of

opportunities for client's

dogs to "have-a-go" and see

if they like it!

The Blue Cross, Cats

Protection, Greyhound

Rescue and Riding for the

Disabled will be running

stalls.

Local dog groomers will

be attending.

Other stalls will include

hand-made brow-bands for

horses, fish a duck for a

prize, hand-made pet beds

and face painting.

Jonathan Wood is putting

together a timeline of

the last 60 years in Veterinary

Practice, encompassing

some of the equipment

in the early days, so if

anybody has any photos or

other memorabilia of interest,

please take it along

or contact the practice.

It is hoped that clients

will have some great memories

and stories to tell,

so people are urged to

share them with staff on

the day!

There will also be a

"behind the scenes" tour

and chance to see what

happens when a pet makes

a visit.

Staff will be on hand

throughout the afternoon

so it will be a great chance

to pick their brains and

ask all those weird and

wonderful questions that

spring to mind once you

have walked out of the

consulting room or the

vets have left the farm.

All the family are welcome,

all that is asked is

that four-legged members

are on a lead please!

There will be free parking

and food, ice cream and

drinks can be purchased

throughout the afternoon

with free drinks for the

dogs, of course!

The practice staff look

forward to seeing you all

for an informative and

fun afternoon, come rain

or shine!