Meet the team

Simon Allen

Simon Allen

Practice Principal

Dr Simon Allen
BDS (Lond)
GDC number 54487

It is rare to be in a position to be able to review success and longevity in your own dental work over more than 40 years.

Simon has been providing private dental treatment ranging from simple fillings to full mouth reconstructions on natural teeth since 1981 and titanium implants since 2001. He has special interests in tooth wear and the decision making between keeping teeth and the placement of implants.

'My greatest satisfaction has been to take dentally phobic patients through dental procedures via gentle techniques and clear explanations and to see the resultant improvement in their self-confidence'. He continues:

'I feel so lucky to be a continuing part of a very special and dynamic dental centre and to have seen the growth of aesthetic dentistry encompassing fields which have always interested me: 'form, design and colour'.

His external interests include: art (including drawing, photography and watercolour), music, (including guitar playing), architecture, cinema, food and wine.

Simon lives in Hampshire with his wife, Anne. They have 2 children, Giles and Elspeth. They also own a cottage, which may be rented, in the Lot Valley in Southern France.

Simon invites you to make your choice of music through the stereo system and/or through headphones, which reduce a lot of the dental sounds!

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Darren Jones

Darren Jones

Practice Principal

Dr Darren Jones
Qualifications:
BDS (Lond)
MFDS RCS Eng
MFGDP (UK)
Dip Imp Dent RCS Ed
GDC No. 73415

Darren sets high professional standards in the provision of his dental care. His broad range of experience and post graduate qualifications allow him to carry out treatment ranging from routine family care up to complex restorative and surgical implant dentistry.

Darren understands the importance of listening and communicating well with his patients. He has worked with his nurse, Andrea as a team since 2006. Together they keep patients relaxed in a warm and friendly atmosphere.

The award of three post graduate qualifications show Darren’s commitment to providing the best standards of care. Several of his papers have been published in dental journals. He has a further interest in placing and restoring implants and holds the Diploma in Implant Dentistry from the Royal College of Surgeons. His skills have also been recognised with the award of Membership of the Faculty of Dental Surgery (MFDS) and the Faculty of General Dental Practitioners (MFGDP).

Darren joined the practice as a partner in 2006 following 10 years of service in the Royal Army Dental Corps. He served in a wide range of locations including, Iraq, Kosovo and Germany. He is married to Tricia and has two daughters, Olivia and Yasmin. He couples family life with active interests in cycling and golf.

If you would like to contact Darren directly to enquire about implants, restorative or cosmetic dentistry then he is happy to receive and respond to your emails via darren@dentalfitnesscentre.co.uk

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blonde lady professional smile

Dr Samantha Ellis

Practice Principal

BSc (Hons) BDS MClinDent Pros. Dip Imp Dent. PG Cert Aesthetic Dentistry PG Cert Aesthetic Medicine MFDS RCS (Eng) MCGDent

Sam graduated from the University of Bristol in 2003 and has over 20 years’ experience as a dentist. Sam has recently obtained a Master of Clinical Dentistry in Fixed and Removable Prosthodontics, with Distinction, from King’s College London.

Sam’s commitment to learning started before dentistry when she obtained a joint honours degree in Pathology and Microbiology from the University of Bristol in 1997.

Since qualifying as a dentist Sam has endeavoured to maintain the momentum for learning. She undertook all exams necessary to gain membership to the Royal College of Surgeons. Developing a passion for minimally invasive dentistry Sam embarked on a year-long Certificate course in Advanced Aesthetic Dentistry at the Eastman Institute (UCL). Upon completion of this,

Sam completed a 2-year part time Diploma in Implant Dentistry at The University of Warwick.
Sam believes in caring, whole patient care with an emphasis on minimally invasive restorative dentistry.

The 4-year part time Master of Clinical Dentistry qualification Sam has recently obtained has elevated Sam to be a tier two dentist. This was a great undertaking, but Sam feels this now allows her to treat her patients with the latest techniques and materials and provide the level of care her patients deserve.

Sam enjoys the outdoors in her spare time. She can be found orienteering, fishing or cooking with her husband on the weekends. On holiday she loves mountaineering and skiing in the French Alps.

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young man blue overalls professional headshot

Dr Geoff Tait

Practice Principal

BA BDent Sci Hons, MFDS RCS (Edin), Dip Imp Dent UCL
GDC No. 193258

Dr Geoff Tait is a highly experienced dentist with a passion for providing exceptional care for the whole family. His practice is built on a foundation of comprehensive family dentistry, combined with advanced expertise in dental implants and aesthetic treatments to create beautiful, confident smiles.

After graduating with honours from Trinity College Dublin, Geoff refined his skills through two years of postgraduate training in oral surgery and restorative dentistry at major dental hospitals in Cardiff and London. He further demonstrated his commitment to excellence by obtaining his Membership from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.

It was during his early career in London that Geoff developed a special interest in implant dentistry. He pursued this passion at the world-renowned Eastman Dental Institute (UCL), completing a rigorous three-year part-time diploma and graduating with a distinction in 2018. He is an active member of the International Team for Implantology (ITI), ensuring he remains at the forefront of implant techniques and technology.

With over 15 years of experience in general practice, gained working in both London and Dublin, Geoff expertly blends high-level restorative care with a preventative, family-friendly approach. He has a particular interest in aesthetic dentistry, using the latest in tooth alignment techniques and expert composite bonding to transform smiles with minimal intervention. His focus is always on using proven technology to provide predictable, long-lasting, and outstanding results for every patient.

Geoff lives locally with his wife Jess, their two young daughters, and their dog. An avid sports enthusiast, he now enjoys watching more than playing, and in his spare time is a keen sailor and yacht racer, having previously represented Ireland in his youth.

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Christina Tatsi

Christina Tatsi

Specialist Paediatric Dentist

Dr Christina Tatsi - Paediatric Dentist
DipDS, MDentSci, FRCD(Canada), MPaedDent(London), PhD, AFHEA
GDC number 86115

Our specialist, Christina Tatsi has over 10 years experience in the dental care of children.

Her holistic approach to dental care focuses on the child and their individual needs. Dental treatment needs to be delivered with empathy in order to build a positive attitude towards dentistry in the future. Prevention is tailor-made in order to fit the child's routine in partnership with the parent(s)/guardian(s).

Christina qualified in 2001 in Greece and completed her 3 years specialist training in 2006 at the Leeds Dental Institute, the only Institute in Europe eligible for the fellowship of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada, which she obtained in 2007. She became a member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 2009. She has completed in 2015 a PhD research degree with a scholarship from the University of Leeds, investigating the prevention of early caries in orthodontic patients. She is also an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

She is a member of the British Society and European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry. She takes an active interest in the research and development of evidence based dentistry for children by attending and presenting in International Conferences and with publications in peer reviewed journals. She is also a reviewer for the European Archives of Paediatric Dentistry.

Christina has also an active interest in teaching and academia with experience in both undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Paediatric Dentistry, having worked for King's College London as a Specialist Clinical Teacher at Denmark Hill Dental Hospital and St Thomas’ Hospital in London.

James Grant

James Grant

Consultant Specialist Orthodontist

BDS (Hons) (Lond), MSc, MFDS RCS (Eng), MOrth RCS (Eng), FDS Orth RCS (Eng)
GDC Registration Number - 79762

James Grant trained at Guy's Hospital and qualified as a dentist in 2001. He became a member of the Faculty of Dental Surgery (MFDS) in 2003.

Following postgraduate orthodontic training at the Eastman Dental Hospital, James gained an MSc in Orthodontics in 2006 and qualified as specialist orthodontist (MOrth) in 2007.

He became a fellow of the Royal College in 2009. From 2010 to 2018 he worked as Consultant Orthodontist at the Children’s Hospital, Brighton and is currently Consultant Orthodontist at Western Sussex Hospital Trust in Chichester and Worthing.

James is married to Ruth and they have three children – Ed, Kiriana and Jonno. His hobbies include tennis, golf and rugby, though he only watches the latter nowadays! He also plays the guitar and enjoys the outdoor life.

Maslinda Mohamad

Maslinda Mohamad

Practice Limited to Endodontics & Dental Sedation

BDS (Singapore), M Clin Dent (Endo) PGCert DentSed
GDC Registration Number - 76873

Maslinda graduated in Singapore in 1997, and has worked exclusively in endodontics since gaining her Masters degree at Guy's Hospital in 2002.
She is happy to accept all endodontic referrals, and particularly enjoys the challenge of difficult cases, re-treatments and endodontic surgery.
In 2015 Maslinda also gained an additional qualification, PGCert in Dental Sedation and Pain Management enabling her to provide intraveneous sedation for patients undergoing treatments with other clinicians at Stricklands.

In her spare time, Maslinda is a member of the local St John Ambulance team, providing First Aid assistance at many public events both locally and across the South of England. She also enjoys reading, running (having completed 2 marathons and several half marathons) and is a keen baker – much to the delight of the rest of the practice team who are always happy to sample her wares!

Piet Haers

Piet Haers

Consultant Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon

MD(Louvain), DMD (Zurich), PhD(Zurich), FDS RCS(London), FGDP RCS(UK), FEBOMS, FIBCOMShon
GDC Registration Number - 76913
GMC Registration Number - 4657231

Mr Haers brings a wealth of experience to implantology and offers a full range of services – from placement of single implants to more extensive rehabilitation, including autogenous and allogenic augmentation. Implant treatments are carried out using Straumann implants exclusively.

Piet is currently Clinical Director and Cleft Surgeon of the South Thames Cleft Team at Guy’s Hospital in London and Consultant Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon at the Guildford Nuffield Hospital. He was Honorary Visiting Doctor at the Postgraduate Medical School of the University of Surrey until 2014. Since 2005, he has been a faculty member of the Specialist Dental Diploma Course of the FGDP of the Royal College of Surgeons.

Piet studied medicine and dentistry in Namur and Leuven, Belgium, and trained in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Bruges, Arnhem and Zurich. Between 1992 and 1999 he was member of staff of the Department of Oral and Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery at the University Hospital of Zurich. His main surgical interests are facial deformity with cleft lip and palate surgery, orthognathic surgery and facial plastic surgery as well as pre-implant surgery, dental implants and oro-facial rehabilitation. His main research interests are 3D imaging and the application of biodegradable materials in oral and maxillofacial surgery.

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Dr Katherine Daley

Periodontist

BDS, MSc Clin Perio

GDC Number 251519
Katherine qualified from Guy’s King’s and St Thomas’ Dental School in 2014 and went on to
pursue her interest in periodontal disease, studying for an MSc in Clinical Periodontology
from The University of Central Lancashire and passing with distinction.
She is now solely focused on treating periodontal disease, with her expertise covering both
affected teeth and implants.
Currently Katherine splits her time between practices in Surrey, Kent and Cambridge,
treating complex cases of gum disease on a referral basis.
She is committed to further training and education and has recently attended courses
across the UK and Europe, developing her knowledge of periodontal plastic surgery and
crown lengthening techniques.
Outside of dentistry Katherine enjoys outdoor adventures, and cooking inspired by her
travels.

Claire Lillywhite

Clare Lillywhite

Practice Manager

RDN Cert DPM
GDC Registration Number - 130920

Clare started her career at Stricklands in 1999 as a dental nurse. She initially worked in general dentistry, then as part of the specialist team, assisting Piet Haers and Maslinda Mohamad for many years before becoming joint practice manager in 2010. Clare is proud to be part of such an innovative dental practice and to lead the fantastic team at Stricklands. In her spare time, Clare likes cooking, long country walks, dog training and catching up on her favourite TV shows. Clare lives locally with her partner and teenage son.

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Emma Cumber

Administrative Assistant

Emma joined the management team in April 2022. She says that she enjoys being part of a busy and friendly team, learning new skills and likes that no day is ever the same!

Emma lives in Haslemere with her husband and 2 young children.

In her spare time she enjoys country walks, park adventures, seeing friends and family, and enjoying a nice meal out or a trip to the cinema.

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Lisa Dwyer

Finance Manager

Lisa became part of the Stricklands Management team in October 2020 and has since done a fantastic job of updating the practice accounting systems.

Lisa lives locally with her husband, daughter and their cocker spaniel, Jensen. She enjoys gardening, in particular tending her allotment, playing badminton, reading, traveling and spending time with friends.

Nicola Steel

Nicki Steel

Dental Hygienist

CEB Dip Dent Hygiene 1994
GDC Registration Number - 4761

Nicki has been a hygienist at Stricklands since 1994! She says she enjoys being at the practice because of the friendly team of colleagues and patients. Nicki has 2 grown up sons. She likes to spend her free time running, mountain biking or horse riding.

Sophia Spencer

Sophia Spencer

Dental Hygienist

CEB Dip Dent Hygiene 1997
GDC Registration Number - 5284

Sophia has been on the hygienist team at Stricklands since 1999. Sophia has very much enjoyed developing a rapport with patients over the years, putting them at ease and trying to make the experience as relaxed and enjoyable as possible.
Sophia trained as a civilian with the Royal Army Dental Corps in Aldershot in 1997. Sophia still lives locally with her hubby but her daughter has flown the nest and now lives and works in London.

Sophia spends a lot of her time looking after and walking her 2 rescue dogs and cat.
When time permits, Sophia loves working in her garden as well as relaxing and enjoying a BBQ.

Naomi Shuff

Naomi Shuff

Hygienist

RDN Diploma
GDC Registration Number - 268103

Naomi joined Stricklands as a dental nurse in 2016. She has enjoyed learning from all our team
members, enabling her to further her career so that she graduated as a Dental Hygienist from
Portsmouth University in July 2022 and we are now very proud to have her on our fabulous hygienist team.
Outside of work, Naomi enjoys travelling as well as spending time with her large, close knit family.

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Alla Gayeva

Hygienist

Alla has been with Stricklands as a Dental Hygienist since 2020. She qualified as a Dental Hygienist and Therapist with a BSc (Hons) from the University of Portsmouth. Alla’s special interests are Periodontics, oral health education, children and nervous patients. She enjoys being part of experienced and caring team at Stricklands.

Outside work, Alla enjoys spending time with her sons, exploring new places and sport.

Emma Jones

Emma Read

Dental Nurse

RDN National Certificate NEBDN 2006
GDC Registration Number - 148986

Emma (known as BB or B to us) has been a valued member of the team on and off, since 2005. Having spent several years working in general dentistry, she has now moved into the realms of specialist nursing, working in the oral surgery and endodontic departments at Stricklands. Emma enjoys walking, spending time with friends and family as well as being a busy mum to children Coby and Cali.

Andrea Fleming

Andrea Fleming

Dental Nurse

RDN
GDC Registration Number - 128252

Andy has been assisting Darren Jones at Stricklands since 2006. She enjoys working alongside Darren because it has allowed her to see many of his patients who visit with their families, grow up. Andy is a keen skier who also enjoys yoga and travelling. She is married to Brian, who is a train driver. Andy came to the UK in 1998 from Slovakia where the rest of her family are.

Natalie Levett

Natalie Glue

Dental Nurse

RDC National Certificate NEBDN
GDC Registration Number - 150949

Natalie has been a dedicated nurse to Colin Frazer since 2008. She enjoys the stability and friendly nature of the Stricklands team. In her spare time, Natalie likes to run and has taken part in many of the Stricklands team runs for Race for Life. She is married and has one daughter.

Marion Harding

Marion Harding

Dental Nurse

RDN National Certificate NEBDN 2007
RDN NVQ L3 Oral Health Care: Dental Nursing & Indp Asses
GDC Registration Number - 166442

Marion has been with the Stricklands team since 2009 and is our real Girl Friday! She assists in surgery for Darren Jones and anyone else when needed, as well as keeping us stocked up with supplies and any other job in between. She is married with 3 grown-up children and one granddaughter. Marion enjoys cooking, DIY and spending time with her family.

Smiling Dental Nurse with Blonde Hair

Helen Cook

Dental Nurse

GDC Registration Number - 149492

Helen has been a nurse with us since 2014, predominantly supporting our hygienist team as well as working in the decontamination room. Helen likes to spend time with her two lovely children and their pet guinea pigs!

Smiling Dentist in Pink Gown and Blonde Hair

Clair Brown

Dental Nurse

RDN National Certificate NEBDN 2002
GDC Registration Number - 134558

Clair has been at the practice for over 20 years, starting her career as an orthodontic nurse. More recently her role is split between sterilization nurse and assistant to James Grant, Specialist Orthodontist as a now qualified Orthodontic Nurse. She likes to go clay pigeon shooting in her spare time, alongside her husband Stuart. They have 2 children, Emily and Oliver.

Cat Noah

Cat Noah

Dental Nurse

RDN National Diploma in Dental Nursing NEBDN 2013
GDC Registration Number - 246079

Cat joined the team in 2018 and says she is loving working with “such a fantastic team”. She is part of our specialist nursing team, working alongside many of the specialists including Piet Haers in Oral Surgery. Her favourite pastime is being with her two beautiful children, Esme and Jaxon.

Dental Nurse Smiling with Black Hair

Stacey Bradford

Dental Nurse

Stacey joined us in 2019 as assistant to Dr Simon Allen. She lives locally with her partner Adam and their daughter Ivy. In her spare time Stacey enjoys baking, reading and long country walks with their dog.
Nina Benneyworth

Nina Benneyworth

Dental Nurse

Nina has been with us since 2018, originally a receptionist but now working as a dental nurse. She works mainly with our hygienist department and says she loves the calm, friendly environment of Stricklands. Outside of work, she likes to run or go to the gym as well as a healthy interest in reading and Sudoku.
Alison Woodbee headshot

Alison Woodbee

Dental Nurse

Ali joined the Stricklands nursing team in the autumn of 2020, and says she like being part of a friendly team who are committed to patient care.

She lists her interests as spending time with family, listening to live music, swimming, reading and baking.

Angella Allwright headshot

Angella Allwright

Dental Nurse

Angella qualified as a dental nurse in 1989 and has attended courses in Sweden and Dublin, as part of her surgical nursing qualification. She says she particularly enjoys implant and surgical nursing.

Angie joined us in 2020 and reportedly enjoys working at Stricklands because of the wide range of high quality services/treatment offered and the great team.

Outside of work, she has two ponies and a one eyed cat. She also likes walking and cycling around the beautiful surrey area.

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Cara Crathern

Dental Nurse

Cara joined the practice in 2020 and works ably alongside Dr Sam Ellis.
She lives locally with her two young children and husband, Dean. They share their home with 2 pug dogs, a cat and 2 Guinea pigs.
Cara likes to practice the art of flower arranging, and also enjoys baking as well as spending time with her family.
Lady Smiling with Red Lipstick

Zena Pemberton

Receptionist

Zena joined the practice in 1997, originally as a receptionist and now has many additional administrative responsibilities. She enjoys walking her black Labrador, Boris as well as reading and cycling (not at the same time!) Zena is married to Tex and has 3 grown-up daughters and 5 lovely grandchildren.
Alison Smiling

Alison Howard

Receptionist

Alison joined the practice in March 2019 as the newest member of our reception team. She comes to Stricklands with some previous knowledge in the dental industry, having worked in an admin position at Pure Dental Laboratory, where most of our dental crowns and bridges are produced. Alison enjoys looking after her many animals, in particular taking long walks with her chocolate Labrador. She also enjoys going for a social drink with her husband John and finds this a welcome relief from life as a busy working mum of two!
Happy Women with Blonde Hair in Blouse

Clare Hayler

Receptionist

Clare is a qualified dental nurse who joined us in 2019 to work as part of our reception team. Clare likes like to travel and often enjoys a long walk in the country with her dog. She also likes to partake in jewellery making and stamp art when she has the opportunity. Clare is married with one son.
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Laura Crates

Receptionist

Laura joined the reception team in February 2022, having previously worked in reception at a local veterinary practice.

She lives locally with her husband and 3 children, as well as her pug dog Arthur, a Persian cat named Percy and a small flock of chickens. Laura likes to cook and bake for friends, as well as going on country walks, travelling, reading and visiting the theatre or museums.

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