Sam Posner is the 21st century's answer to Doctor Dolittle - ok, perhaps she can't talk to animals but she certainly has a special quality.

As a veterinary nurse she has won MediVet groups employee of the year. The 42-year-old mother of three has worked at MediVet's main practice in Watford for over 20 years. Mrs Posner tells People: "I am very pleased to win this award, especially as MediVet has over 60 practices. I probably won because I am lippy and bolshie and everyone knows me."

Mrs Posner has worked at the practice since she was 16 and studied at the Berkshire College of Agriculture. She says: "I knew from a young age that I would work with animals. I used to feed the pigeons on my way to school outside Camden station, and when I was very young I was scared to walk on grass in case I stepped on any animals living there. Even on a rainy day now, when I am walking with my son, I still go around saving all the worms."

She also works part time at the BMI Chiltern Hospital in Great Missenden as a health care assistant. "I wasn't sure if I could deal with the change-over from animals to people because it's not a normal occurrence to work with both animals and people, and I always preferred animals. But working with people has been so rewarding."