Our team
Clinic Principal; Sandra Thorkeldsen (Doctor of Chiropractic)
BSc (Chiro), DC, CCEP, MCC
I am married to Arvid, who is also a chiropractor, and we live in Christchurch. We have three grown sons, the youngest has just moved back home. They all have girlfriends but are showing no signs of settling down.
My busy week is split Afon House and teaching. I teach chiropractic technique to undergraduate chiropractic students at the top European chiropractic college in Bournemouth.
During my spare time I love gardening and my pride and joy is my rose garden. This is a passion which began very early in life with my father’s rose garden. He enjoys coming down to Christchurch and pottering in the garden.
Arvid and I refurbished the house ourselves. We have replaced practically every piece of wood in the house from the floorboards to the door frames and windows. Only the staircase and the floor beams survived. We have, in effect been living in a building site for the last 10 years but we are now working on the last room. To escape from DIY we enjoy walking and often walk along the river or the beach.
Niki Douglas (Doctor of Chiropractic)
BSc (Hons), PGCert, DC, MCC
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After growing-up in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, although I have no accent I still consider myself a ‘Yorkshire lass’ who loves the countryside. My recent move to a run-down cottage in need of exterior renovation and interior design explores my love of home-made crafts, almost a ‘Kristy’s home-made home’. It is situated in the idyllic Hampshire countryside, with Wiltshire on the doorstep and the new arrival of ‘Tess’ my Cocker Spaniel completes the country life.
I am a keen baker and at the weekends there will always be a smell of either freshly baked bread or a Victoria Sponge floating through the house. As a result I am spoilt for company as my friends always drop by just in time for the most recently baked item.
Therefore I would have to admit I live a healthy balance between eating cake, and of course chocolate and keeping fit in my spare time. I enjoy netball and running, and have recently decided to challenge my 25 minutes jog in the morning to enter a half marathon in February, to this day I still do not know what I was thinking and I am dreading the next challenge that comes to mind.
Jon Booth (Doctor of Chiropractic)
MChiro, PGCert, MCC
Sport has always played an important part in my life and from a young I age I took up kayaking and have been doing this for over 14 years. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the places the sport has taken me, from Wales to the Austrian Alps, appreciating the challenges as well as the amazing scenery. This alone was never enough; my passion to seek out new experiences and skills has led me to train in martial arts, juggling, and skydiving and of course, Chiropractic. Although all of these activities do take up a large amount of my time, I always endeavour to make time for my brilliantly supportive partner and our mischievous dog, Frazzle.
Julie Haley (Clinic Receptionist)
A recent settler in Wiltshire, I have been with Afon House for just over a year and thoroughly enjoy being part of the team. Having worked in the Middle East for several years I am acutely aware of the need for excellent customer service in every area of business and I know that this is what we endeavour to achieve here at the House. Since arriving in Salisbury my husband and I have acquired two cats via the RSPCA – sisters we are led to believe even though they can barely tolerate each other! Well, upon reflection... I have also managed to do a parachute line jump since being in Wiltshire, something I have wanted to do for a long time – or thought I wanted to. Sat in the doorway of an aircraft with both legs dangling out was not, I discovered, an altogether convenient time to find that I seemed to have developed just a touch of vertigo. Coupled with the fact that my navigational skills on terra firma are none too good, in the air they were totally nonexistent – all in all I’d give myself 0 points for technique and 10 for stupidity! I survived and you will find me safely tucked behind the desk in Reception at Afon House.