Meet the team

Animal care is a very personal business and client relationships are important to us. We have a lot of talent under one roof at our Coalville vet animal surgery – so meet the team and see what makes us tick.

Diane Storer

Diane Storer

BVM&S PgCertVBM CertAVP PgDipVPS MRCVS

Hi I’m Diane and I’ve been working at Cockburn Vets since the mid ‘90s. I was raised on my family’s farm in Northern Ireland, where I grew up with a love of all animals. I qualified as a vet from Edinburgh University’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in 1989, and then worked in practices in Cheshire, Staffordshire and Berkshire before moving to Cockburn Vets in 1995.

For me the best part of veterinary medicine is the variety it brings and the lovely pets and people I get to help. My primary aim is to ensure that I give all my patients the most up to date treatment options so a few years ago I completed a 4 year diploma in veterinary professional studies obtaining a distinction by scoring over 70% in each module. Outside work I enjoy spending time with my family, our cat Denzel, going to spin classes, walking, reading and embroidery.

cockburn-veterinary-group-vet-in-coalville-staff-cathy-churchill

Cathy Churchill

BVetMed MRCVS

Hi I’m Cathy and I joined Cockburn Vets in November 2014 having worked in a number of practices over the years. Whilst I have a love of all things veterinary my main love is surgery and I have introduced keyhole surgery to Cockburn’s so that we are now able to offer laparoscopic surgeries for spays, abdominal biopsies, removal of cryptorchid testicles and foreign body retrieval.

I have recently swapped my pedals for power and have started riding a motorbike – come rain, hail or shine … but not snow! I am a Bath Rugby Club supporter (sorry Tigers fans. Bath? Please! Of all the clubs in the premiership…) and an avid reader of both fiction and non-fiction books.

Nadine Wainwright

Nadine Wainwright

BSc (Hons) BVSc MRCVS

Hi’ I’m Nadine and I enjoy all aspects of general practice but have a particular interest in medicine and feline medicine and am one of the Cat Advocates for the practice. I also really enjoy surgery – especially soft tissue surgery.

Having completed a degree in Physiology, I went on to fulfil my ambition to become a vet qualifying from the University of Liverpool in 2007 and after several roles elsewhere I joined Cockburn Vets in May 2018.

In my spare time I enjoy going to the cinema, gym and spending time with family and friends.

Nyika Tanton

Nyika Tanton

BVSc,, MScCAB(Hons), MRCVS

Hi I’m Nyika and I graduated from Bristol Vet School in 1998. Over the years I’ve worked in a number of veterinary practices but particularly love working at Cockburn Vets because it is an independent, family owned, practice. I am fascinated by animal behaviour and have recently completed a MSc in Clinical Animal Behaviour through Lincoln University.

At home I have rather a menagerie of horses, dogs, cats, chickens, hamsters and not forgetting Bob, the goldfish!

mariaa1

Maria Tokarska

MRCVS

Hi, my name is Maria and I qualified as a vet from the University of Life Science in Lublin, Poland in 2014. Straight after graduation I moved to the UK and started work as a companion animal vet, joining Cockburn Vets in January 2023. I have a special interest in feline medicine and love naughty cats and I’m always up for a challenge. I also find palliative care and end of life medicine a very rewarding part of my job 

At home I’m a proper cat my with my 3 babies and in my spare time I enjoy baking cakes and bread and going jogging.

cat web

Caitlin Birchall

BVM BVS MRCVS

Hi, my name is Caitlin and I graduated from Nottingham University in 2023, although I am originally from the North East.

I enjoy all aspects of being a vet but I have a real interest in imaging and emergency care. However, nothing beats kittens and puppies! 

Outside of work I enjoy performing arts and exploring new places with my partner and our dog, Tatum. 

nft

Nick Tougher

BVSc MRCVS

Hi, My name is Nick. I graduated from Liverpool University in 2023 but am originally from Ireland.

My favourite part of being a vet is performing surgery, I find this a really interesting part of my job. I have a keen interest in Neurology and like to follow cases that have been referred  to specialists to find out the ‘why’s’ of unusual cases.

In my spare time away from work, I compete in mounted games with my horse Keegan and enjoy spending time with family back home and my horse.

Serena Giorgi

MRCVS
Hi, my name is Serena and I graduated from Bologna University, in Italy in 2009. I have worked in Italy for 5 years , with large and small animals before moving to UK in 2014. 

After taking a short career break to look after my family, I re-started my vet journey in 2017. 

Since then I have worked in different practices around Leicestershire, and I moved to Cockburns in September 2024.

I really enjoy all parts of my job and I have a strong interest in internal medicine and imaging.

In my free time, I love going for long walks in the countryside and travelling around UK.

Alex Trayer

BVMSci MRCVS

Hi, I’m Alex and I graduated from the University of Surrey in 2024, although I’m originally from North Yorkshire.

I have a keen interest in both medicine and surgery. I enjoy the variety of cases in general practice as well as meeting different people and helping their pets!

Outside of work, I enjoy going on walks and spending time outdoors with family and friends.