1956

In 1956 John Taylor, a new graduate joined the practice and so the first expansion had started.  The practice changed premises in 1965, relocating to 47 Kedleston Road. Farm work still occupied most of the day’s work, facilities for small animals being one consulting room, one operating theatre and two dog kennels.

There were no routine appointments for pets, worried owners merely waited until the first farm vet returned from his rounds. Open evening surgeries would continue for another 30 years seeing everybody who could get through the door by 7pm.

The practice continued to thrive and by the mid 60’s additional manpower was needed. This came in the form of Tony Thompstone who in later years was to become a real driving force behind the development of the business.

1972

In 1972 Tony joined the partnership when John Rorrison retired. During the same year 45 Kedleston Road came onto the market and was purchased by the partnership, providing much needed additional space for the continually growing practice and future accommodation for veterinary assistants in the spacious flats above the practice. Further opportunity arose in 1976 when, following the demolition of the old terraced houses in Elm’s Street, a plot of land, immediately behind the practice became available.  The acquisition of this land allowed the future building of the hospital extension.

In the late 70’s Tom Craig and Martin Grundy became partners and by this time the demand for the veterinary care of pet animals had increased substantially.

1979

In 1979 David Bell, who for 2 years had worked in the surgery department of the Royal Veterinary College London, joined the practice as the first, almost exclusively, small animal vet. This was the start of a trend towards specialisation, which has continued to the present day.

1982

Chris Parker joined the practice. As all visits were still allocated in a day book with initials, and C & P were already in use, Chris had to use his middle initial S and was promptly re-christened Sid, a name that was to stick for the next 37 years.

1983

In response to the increased companion animal caseload the Duffield and Mickleover practices were acquired and opened in 1983. Whilst these practices provided increased consulting room capacity, the operating facilities at Kedleston Road were becoming increasingly stretched. In response to this problem a major investment was undertaken when the practice decided in 1986, to build a large extension on the plot of land at the back of the Kedleston Road practice. This provided considerable additional kennelling, 2 new operating theatres, a large preparation room and an extra consulting room. A large garage was constructed where a variety of operations on large animals could be performed. This extension freed up some space in the old building and allowed for the expansion of the laboratory facilities under the guidance of Chris Parker, who was to become the sixth partner.

The Practice was now providing outstanding facilities for the treatment of companion animals, and it was felt that the standards necessary for Hospital status had been met. Application was duly made to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and following a rigorous inspection of the premises and facilities, hospital status was granted. This was a very proud day for everyone involved, especially Tony Thompstone who had put so much effort into co-ordinating the construction of the new building. With this elevation in status, the old name of Taylor, Thompstone and Partners was replaced by The Scarsdale Veterinary Hospital, based on the fact that the original name of the buildings at 45-47 Kedleston Road was ‘Scarsdale Villas’.

In the late 80s, discussions with Ron Christie, who owned his own Practice in South Street, led to the merger of the two practices. It was at this point, due to increasing size, the Practice split into two separate departments. Farm and equine vets were based at South Street with companion animal vets remaining at Kedleston Road.

1987

Sandy Jamieson joined the practice. Sandy had previously been working at Mr Christie’s practice on South Street.