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Toft Lodge Silver Jubilee Celebration

Silver Jubilee 1984 - 2009

   
2009 will mark the silver jubilee for Toft Lodge, the premises of Toft Lodge Veterinary Centre and Toft Animal Supplies pet shop. To mark this occasion several events are planned by the staff of Toft Lodge during this year. The main event will be held on the afternoon of Sunday 2nd August at Toft Lodge, and the staff and partners invite all clients and friends of the practice to come and help them celebrate 25 years!

Retired partner Rob Turnbull with current partners Richard Sutcliffe, Nicky Lumley and Leslie Cox.

Toft Lodge veterinary practice actually has it’s origins in the early half of the last century, when a veterinary assistant called Mr McCloud managed the Easingwold branch for a fellow Scot, Mr Campbell, in Boroughbridge. On Mr Campbell’s retirement Mr A. G. Rae took over the Boroughbridge side of the practice and in 1959 was joined by newly-qualified assistant Rob Turnbull. Within 15 months Rob Turnbull took over as manager of the Easingwold branch, and in 1962 he purchased the Easingwold end of the practice from Mr Rae. From 1962 until 1973 the practice was carried out from Quorne House on Little Lane just off the marketplace in Easingwold.

Norman Jackson, a local farmer’s son who had been a student with Rob Turnbull, joined the practice after qualifying in 1964, and joined Rob as partner in 1971. Having outgrown its situation in the town centre, the two partners moved the practice to Raskelf Road, first to Fern Villa, and then in 1984 to the custom-built surgery at Toft Lodge next door where it is found today. At the time of Rob Turnbull’s retirement in 1988, he and Norman Jackson had worked solely for the same practice since qualifying – perhaps a unique 27 year veterinary association!

Norman Jackson stayed at the helm of the Toft Lodge where he was joined by Nicky Lumley in 1995, another local vet who had spent her student years with the practice. In 2003 Nicky purchased the practice from Norman, who continues with some part time work for Toft Lodge, and in 2006 formed the current partnership with Bishopton Veterinary Group of Ripon. 

At the celebration on 2nd August the partners and staff at Toft Lodge plan to celebrate their Silver Jubilee with as many clients and friends of the practice as possible. There will be entertainment for all the family in the form of a falconry display by Minster Falconry of Sutton Park, live music, various animals to meet including shetland pony, kune kune pigs , rabbits, guinea pigs and hopefully some donkeys too! Barbecued refreshments will be provided, and a cake stall is planned to raise money for animal charities. Children will be kept busy with face painting and bouncy castle, and there will be fun competitions for all the family with some fantastic prizes.

Everyone at Toft Lodge hopes you will join them in this celebration, and raise funds for animal charities in the process. Donations of cakes /baking will be gratefully accepted!

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