Meet our Team

Michael Clarke - Clinic Principal michael@mersearoadclinic.co.uk

Michael founded the practice back in 1997.  At that point the clinic was located further down the Mersea Road and operated on a part time basis. The clinic moved to various locations over the next few years before settling here in July 2002.  The clinic has established a reputation for excellent service and high osteopathic standards.

Michael graduated from the European School of Osteopathy after an industrial accident provoked a complete career change.  He has developed a reputation for treating difficult chronic low back conditions.  He is also successful in treating a wide range of other conditions including sports injuries, jaw problems (TMJ), headaches and visceral complaints such as IBS.

His understanding of spinal biomechanics is excellent.  He has used this knowledge to formulate a standard model by which all Osteopathic treatments are based on at the clinic.  Michael is instrumental in creating a team environment, at the clinic which is beneficial when it comes to complex case presentations.  These cases are discussed within the team and this ensures the patient receives the optimal management.

As part of his passion for Osteopathic medicine he regularly attends courses that improve and add value to his personal and clinical scope of practice.

David Kennett - Clinic Director david@mersearoadclinic.co.uk
David graduated from the European School of Osteopathy (ESO) and joined the clinic in July 2003 making him the most senior associate here.  He took on the roll of Clinical Director in 2007 and has helped the Clinic to expand into one of the biggest in the region.

David treats a wide variety of complaints including those related to sports, posture and work.  His experience in both structural and cranial Osteopathy enables him to treat the most complex of conditions.

He is especially interested in football having played to semi-professional level and is currently a coach with an Under 18’s team in Kent.

David lectures Osteopathic Technique and Advanced Clinical Practice at the ESO in Maidstone, Kent and has also lectured internationally which has seen him visit countries such as Spain, France and Russia.

Tom Warner thomas@mersearoadclinic.co.uk
Tom trained at the London School of Osteopathy in Tower Hamlets, where he treated a wide range of people from  many different ethnic backgrounds. He graduated in 2004 and has been working at the Mersea Road Clinic for five years.

Since graduating he has undertaken postgraduate study in cranio-sacral technique at the Sutherland Cranial College and classical osteopathic technique under the late John Wernham in Maidstone. Tom continues to look at further opportunities to improve the depth of his osteopathic knowledge and is currently developing his visceral and functional techniques, with the help of Michael Clarke, the principal at the Mersea Road Clinic.

Tom also works at a large osteopathic practice in Bury St Edmunds, and has recently started his own practice in Sudbury, where he lives. In his spare time Tom enjoys cycling and hill walking and is a frequent visitor to the mountains of Wales. He is a member of the Essex Wildlife Trust, for whom he does voluntary work when time allows.

Jonathan Shaw jonathan@mersearoadclinic.co.uk
Jonathan graduated from British College of Osteopathic Medicine (BCOM) in 2003 with a Degree in Osteopathic Medicine and a Diploma in Naturopathy.  He has worked at Mersea Road Clinic for six years.

Jonathan enjoys treating a wide range of conditions and has a special interest in chronic low back problems and their association with the overall biomechanical function.
Jonathan’s interests include playing jazz piano, psychology and speaking Spanish.

 

Brian Walklett brian@mersearoadclinic.co.uk

Brian joined The Mersea Road Clinic early last year after returning to the UK from New Zealand, where he worked in a Practice alongside seven GPs.

After completing an Honours degree and qualifying as an Osteopath in 1997 Brian studied for a PGC in education and an Advanced Osteopathic Medicine Masters degree.  As well as running his own Practice before going to New Zealand for nearly three years.  Brian also worked as an Osteopathic Lecturer and Tutor at the European School of Osteopathy.  On behalf of the ESO Brian has acted as an Examiner of overseas students and lectured in Russia and France.

Running his own Practice for 10 years, plus his role as an Examiner and Teacher, coupled with his research experience and sporting background has enabled Brian to develop as a multi-disciplined Practitioner.  This has allowed him to treat a wide range of complaints in all age groups from birth to the more senior citizen, using a diversity of techniques from the totally structural approach to the softer functional and cranial approaches.

Having recently completed a cholesterol and diabetes testing course Brian is now offering these tests as an extra service to existing Mersea Road Clinic patients.

Steve Graham steve@mersearoadclinic.co.uk
Steve graduated with a Masters Degree from the British College of Osteopathic Medicine (BCOM).  Prior to choosing Osteopathy as a profession, Steve served 12 years as an Officer in the Army, during which appreciation of the importance of health and fitness was developed.  Having experienced Osteopathy as a patient, Steve believes strongly that treatment can also help to prevent future injury by identifying movement or postural dysfunction before any symptoms are actually felt.  As such, Steve treats many patients on a maintenance basis to enable optimal function and wellbeing.

In practice, Steve treats a wide range of conditions and across all age groups from babies upwards.  With a keen interest in horses and dogs, Steve is also developing his skills in Animal Osteopathy.  (But would strongly request that these patients do not come to The Mersea Road Clinic for treatment)!

Gemma Horne gemma@mersearoadclinic.co.uk
Gemma graduated from the European School of Osteopathy. Prior to studying osteopathy Gemma worked as a veterinary nurse in which time she developed and managed her own clinics. Working closely with the public she became increasingly interested in the different aspects of healthcare which led her to osteopathy. Gemma enjoys treating a variety of people of all ages.
 
In her spare time Gemma enjoys horse riding which she previously rode competitively and mountain biking."

 

Caitlin Perrett caitlin@mersearoadclinic.co.uk
Caitlin graduated with a Masters Degree from the British School of Osteopathy. Previously being a competitive cyclist taught her the importance of  health and function. Having had osteopathic treatment herself she found that osteopathy followed the same ideals.

Since graduating Caitlin enjoys treating a wide variety of conditions and understands the value of preventative care.
 

 

Christopher Allen - chris@mersearoadclinic.co.uk
Christopher graduated from the European School of Osteopathy (ESO) in 2003 and has since been working in osteopathic clinics in Surrey and Kent. He has a very dedicated and professional approach to his patients.

Christopher treats a wide variety of complaints from sport injuries, postural strains to headaches. He uses both structural and cranial techniques adapting his approach to best suit each individual patient.

Christopher has a background as a personal trainer, and if necessary he uses this previous experience to give advice on appropriate exercise to enable his patients to return to full fitness as quickly as possible.

Christopher has also lectured, assisted and examined at the ESO in Maidstone, Kent.

Steven Rudland steven@mersearoadclinic.co.uk

Steven has been a qualified Masseur for five years and has been at The Mersea Road Clinic for three years.

Steven is working with Great Britain’s 1 and 2 Race Walkers, regular massage has helped them with injury prevention.  Here at The Mersea Road Clinic we all believe in prevention being better than cure and with regular treatments that becomes more achievable.

Steven is also a qualified Indian Head Masseur and has helped people with headaches, migraines and insomniacs and is currently using Indian Head Massage to de-stress workers in a local office.

Steven is a keen commuter cyclist and enjoys regular exercise in the form of circuit training and pilates.

Jo Tankard jo@mersearoadclinic.co.uk

Jo is qualified in Sports and Swedish Massage.  She qualified from the Reade College in London in 2002.
Since then, Jo has worked in New Zealand at a sports chiropractic clinic and then back in the UK at various health clubs and clinics before setting up her own establishment in Ipswich in 2007.
Jo approaches each person individually, considering physical and emotional aspects to provide a rounded treatment.

 

Sam Bateman - Practice Manager samantha@mersearoadclinic.co.uk

Sam joined the Clinic in 2003 as a Receptionist and was promoted in 2006 to Practice Manager.

Before joining the practice Sam was a Secretary to the Manager of a Reinsurance Department of a large Insurance Company based in Colchester and previously worked in a Solicitors office as a Secretary to a Legal Executive.

 

Josie Kelly

Josie joined the Clinic in January 2009 as a Receptionist.  After leaving School Josie attended Colchester Institute and studied for a Diploma in Business Administration Level 3 as well as various other text and word processing qualifications.

Josie’s interests include reading, writing and swimming.

 

Suzanne Lilley

Suzanne first worked at the clinic in 2004 as a receptionist, before moving to Spain to live, where she learnt to speak Spanish and ran her own business, a Locotorio (International Telephone Shop).

She rejoined the Mersea Road Clinic to work on reception in 2011, and also works at Philip Morant school and College, as a Learning Support Assistant, working mainly with  the 14 -16 year old students.

In her spare time, Suzanne likes to spend time with her family and friends, read, go to the theatre and walk her dog, Chester.