Molesey Vets’ 50th Anniversary – All Things Darren Partridge
June 2, 2023
When seven-year-old Darren read the ‘All Creatures Great and Small’ books by James Herriot he knew he wanted to be a vet; and during his childhood he laid the foundations for his future career by studying newts and lizards and other small creatures.
In the mid-1980s Darren attended Bristol University where he studied for a degree in Veterinary Science and then a second degree, in Anatomical Science. During this time, he took part in the first ever Anglo-Mongolian mountaineering expedition, collecting Arachnid samples for the Natural History Museum. He also qualified as a fitness instructor and experienced an eclectic mix of part time jobs – including barman, cinema usher, London cycle courier, fishmonger, double-glazing salesman and hairdresser’s receptionist.
Darren qualified as a vet in 1993 and worked in general practice ‘up north’ in Bolton, Manchester and Leeds. In 1995, research into palaeontology transported Darren to the Permo-Triassic boundary of the Urals in Russia, where he took part in his second expedition, collecting fossils.
In 2001, Darren was living back in Surrey, his home county, working as a freelance locum vet. He worked at numerous veterinary practices across South London, including Molesey Veterinary Centre. In 2006 he was offered an equal partnership at MVC and remains in his managerial role today.
You might think that’s all there is to know about this animal loving, fossil-hunting, arachnologist. But there’s actually more…
Darren is a martial arts practitioner and teacher; a SCUBA diver; an aerobatic pilot; a Chalkstream fly-fishing enthusiast; a published author; and in 1984 was part of a 4-man world-record breaking team for 12-hour Lawnmower Racing!
And if you’ve ever wondered about the Dalek in our reception… you’ve guessed it, that’s down to Darren too.
NEXT WEEK: Giving Back to the Local Community
We hope you’re enjoying, and learning a lot, from our 50th Anniversary blog series – in case you missed our first three articles:
- Announcement – Celebrating 50 Years of Caring for Your Pets
- 50th Anniversary: The History of Molesey Vets
- 50 Years of Growth and Achievements
