Hythe vet Seadown celebrates 100th anniversary

A NEW Forest vet hospital has hit a historic milestone, celebrating its 100th birthday this year.

Seadown Vets in Hythe has been caring for animals for a century and, in honour of this, all former and current staff are invited to a party later this year to celebrate.

The practice was established in 1923 by a Mr J Ripley, working from a single room at the back of his home at Dibden Purlieu.

After opening branches in Totton in 1962 and Lymington in 1964, it was decided to move operations to the current site – previously kennels and a bungalow – in 1974 when larger premises and a hospital was built.

Former director and vet at Seadown for over 37 years, Bob Bentley, said the practice operated “like a family”.

“Everyone has always worked really hard to marry traditional values of compassion and care with modern veterinary medicine and customer service, treating every patient as if it were their own,” he said.

“At Seadown, everyone loves what they do and considers themselves lucky to live in this area and work with a great team. The practice has wonderful clients and a huge breadth of special patients, from family dogs and cats, to exotics and all sorts of wildlife, and from Forest donkeys and ponies to competition and pleasure horses. It certainly keeps us out of mischief!”

Laura Trigg, senior equine vet and Seadown clinical director, said it “means the world” to celebrate a century.

“We are incredibly grateful to all the staff, patients and clients who have continually supported the practice throughout the years. It really is a huge honour to serve the New Forest people and animal communities, and to be a part of many fascinating historical traditions and age-old Forest ways.”