DAVID PARKINS

I was born Glasgow 1977 and raised in Scotland’s major city’s outskirts attending Craigdhu Primary andDouglas Academy along with my sister Lynne. I spentmuch of my childhood and youth working (or making a nuisance of myself ) at Glasgow University’s Cochno Farm. It was at Cochno I got a grounding and interest in animals, particularly the big ones. The rest of
my young years were filled with playing football for Bearsden Boys Club and rugby for the school and West Of Scotland, and getting beaten at golf by my dad.

I joined Glasgow Vet School in 1995 where I enjoyed my studies and proudly became captain of the rugby team in my final 3 years. It was here I first met Nick Freeman where we whiled away the hours cutting up dead stinking Alsations (anatomy lessons, not for a hobby). After qualifying in 2000 I worked for Agrimin as a Veterinary Advisor before accepting a post in Hexham with Iain Carrington. Foot and Mouth rapidly was upon us and I was rushed away to
Cumbria to tackle the outbreak in the west for many months. FMD was quite an experience both from a veterinary and personal viewpoint: and not one I would choose to repeat in a hurry. Post-FMD the conditions changed at the Hexham practice so I chose to resign but had made up my mind then that I wanted to return to this area. Soon enough I was on my way to New Zealand to work for several months on the Cantebury Plains learning how ‘extensive’
farming was carried out. Returning to Hexham in 2002 I officially joined Intake Veterinary Services.

Today, I enjoy a variety of work in the equine and farm departments but have a specific interest in sheep medicine, cattle medicine and the growing field of Camelid medicine and reproduction. I deal with beef, dairy, sheep and alpaca enterprises on a daily basis so feel
lucky to have a varied and interesting case load. I always keep a cool head, my finger on the pulse and rarely get over-excited. I currently live in Corbridge with my long-suffering other half Jill, beautiful baby Amy and stupid dog Ralph. Outwith this I am a member at Hexham Golf Club, I am player-manager of Corbridge Golden Lion FC, an avid Scotland Rugby fan and a horse racing aficionado and make it to the track as often as possible with the Cheltenham Festival being a favourite. All that apart I am a lifelong Rangers supporter and I occasionally make time for an alchoholic beverage.

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