Well House Veterinary Clinic • Crowborough • East Sussex • Tel: 01892 653088

About Us

The Dier family have been treating animals in the Crowborough area for over 200 years!

History of the veterinary practice

This practice was founded by Mr Basil Dier in Crowborough over 50 years ago. Mark and Teresa Johnston (Mr Dier's daughter) came to work in the practice in 1986. Mr Dier retired in 1988 and Mark & Teresa took over the practice. At that time it was a mixed small and large animal practice. (Click to see the Dier family tree).

In 1996 the large animal side had fallen, and it was decided that we could not give the quality of service so we arranged with a neighbouring practice to take on our large animal work. Since then we have been 100% small animal.

In 1994 we moved to "The Well House", the present practice premises.

The Well House

Well House Veterinary Clinic on Crowborough Hill, Crowborough The ground floor is the veterinary practice, with a large waiting room, reception & dispensary area and two consulting rooms (all air conditioned). We have a Prep' room where we prepare animals for surgery and carry out other procedures eg ultrasound. There is a separate operating theatre, where all our sterile operations are carried out. There is also a Laboratory and X-ray room. There is now a dedicated dental suite with dental X-ray facilities. We also have a large kennel area with isolation facilities.
Click to see more about the practice facilities.

The people at the practice

Meet the vets, nurses and practice staff at the Well House Clinic.

Mark Johnston (BVetMed MRCVS)

I qualified in 1981 from the Royal Veterinary College and then started my professional career in RVC's Department of Medicine as Houseman. I then went into mixed practice in Newport, South Wales for four years, before moving to Crowborough in 1986.

My veterinary interests include radiography, dentistry, oral surgery and general dog and cat internal medicine.

Outside the practice Teresa and I have three daughters, one dog, three cats and one Californian corn snake. Over the years we have had rats, hamsters, a Leopard Gecko and even stick insects and Giant African Snails as pets.

I has also been involved with the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) which represents over 6,000 vets who are interested in small animals veterinary science, initially as Secretary and then Chairman of the Surrey and Sussex Region. I am now a member of the Board and Treasurer of the whole Association.

Teresa Johnston (BVetMed MRCVS)

I qualified from the Royal Veterinary College, London in 1981 and worked initially in Wootton Basett and Swindon, Wiltshire in a mixed practice for 3 years. I then moved to a small animal practice in Newport, Wales and returned back to my father's practice in 1986.

I trained in 2002 to be a BSAVA Minimum Standard Inspector. The practice became a Registered Training Practice for veterinary nurses and I qualified as a D32/33 Assessor in 2002 and oversee the nursing training within the practice.

Having grown up in a veterinary practice I have always been surrounded by animals and our pets are an important part of our family life.

I enjoy looking after our three daughters, gardening, cooking, reading, bird-watching and attend a French Course. I am also a member of the Veterinary History Society.

Aloma Hughes

We moved to the UK in 1982, and spent a year in Tunbridge Wells before moving to Crowborough. I joined the veterinary practice in 1986, and I deal with all the administration and secretarial duties.

I am not a pet owner at present, but hope to have a cat again one day. My hobbies are films, reading crosswords and travel.

Alex Dalleywater

I qualified from the Royal Veterinary College, London University in 1994 and worked for the first 4 years in mixed practice with both small and farm animals. I joined Dier and Johnston in 1998.

In 2004, I took an 18 month sabbatical with my partner and sailed our Yacht to and around the Mediterranean. I returned to th practice in late 2005. Since then my partner and I have bought a house in Rotherfield and we got married in May 2007.

This year I have registered to study for the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Advanced Certificate in Veterinary General Practice which I hope to complete in the next 2 years.

Jetty Maltha

I completed my training in the Netherlands and qualified in 2002. I have focused on small animals only in the last 6 months. After working for a year in the Netherlands I decided to move to the UK for a minimum of 2 years. I am enjoying it so much that almost 5 years later I am still here and not planning to move back home yet!

I share my flat with my two cats, Greate Pier, a big soppy young lad and Crumpet, an affectionate old lady that can be very feisty.

I love playing volleyball and being outdoors walking and camping. Photography is one of my many hobbies, for which unfortunately there is not always enough time.

Angela Hayselden

I am a newly qualified RVN (registered veterinary nurse). I have been a nurse at the practice for just over 3 years.

I have always grown up with and been around animals, so naturally I wanted to work with them too!

I have always had cats and dogs since I was little. I currently have three dogs, two of which are english bull terrier cross with staffordshire bull terriers which seem to have an infinite energy supply! The third is a Shar-pei who much prefers a quieter,more relaxed sort of life. In addition to the dogs I also have a cat, a hamster and tropical fish. I have just recently bought a horse (Anglo-Arab), who I have competed with at 'open' level of Endurance riding, so that's my main hobby, as well as dog walking! No need for a gym membership!

I will be be organising and running more nurse clinics with my fellow nurses in the very near future, so I look forward to meeting some of you then.

Lucy Walker

I have recently qualified. I am originally from Brighton but moved to Crowborough to pursue my career as a veterinary nurse.

In April 2007, I went to Shamwari Game Reserve where I got to track down lions, leopards, cheetah, rhino, and elephants.

I assisted the vet during a procedure in the bush, by holding the rhino's leg so that the vet could access the area. It was very heavy!!!

I enjoy my job and could not dream about doing anything else.

Jenny Chandler

I am a RVN (registered Veterinary Nurse) and have been nursing in various small animal and equine practices for 17 years. I have been at Dier and Johnston's for 2 years. I started off as Head Nurse, but in May 2007 I moved over into practice management, and now work part time as the Practice Manager.

I have grown up with animals and always enjoyed working with, and caring for them. At home I have two cats – both British Shorthairs who just love looking for mischief! I also have a coldwater fish tank.

When not at work I am a keen amateur photographer and also enjoy walking and horse-riding (when I have the time).

Helen Winter

I joined the practice in September 2006 as a part-time receptionist, with a background of having had a variety of 'people-orientated' jobs ranging from retail management to a teaching assistant at a local primary.

Animals have always formed a large part of my personal life, and now my work too! Growing up the menagerie consisted of the usual smattering of rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, tropical fish, and horses. Now my home is filled with 4 dogs, 1 cat and 2 teenagers!

Away from the practice I like to relax by walking the dogs, reading, riding and enjoy frequent family days out to Thorpe Park and Chessington.

Vicki Mace

I've worked at Dier and Johnston since August 2007 after moving to East Sussex from my home county of Norfolk.

I've always wanted to work with animals, and after completing my A-levels and degree I still had this ambition I decided to follow a career in veterinary nursing.

I have no pets at present but have grown up with animals of various shapes and sizes my whole life. In my spare time I enjoy amateur dramatics and singing.

Bel Heaton

I started at The Well House in November 2007 as a student veterinary nurse. I'm due to start my 2nd and final year of my nurse training this September at Plumpton College, when I hope to become a fully qualified nurse.

Unfortunately I don't have any pets of my own, but when I have my own place I intend to have at least 2 cats and 2 dogs!

I'm really interested in exotics, especially reptiles and snakes. My favourites are Bearded Dragons and Hog Nosed Snakes.

My main areas of interest within the practice are surgical procedures and laboratory work as well as long term hands on care of hospitalised patients.