TRIBUTES have been paid to a vet nurse who died suddenly at the age of 36.

Colleagues of Rose Usher-Smith raised the alarm when she failed to turn up to her job as head nurse at Dunedin Vet Practice, Tranent, earlier this month. Her death on June 1 has been ruled as natural causes following a post-mortem.

The “caring and dedicated” nurse, who lived in Haddington, was one of the longest serving members of staff at the practice.

Her devastated colleagues are now planning to create a memorial garden at the Tranent surgery in her memory – and have opened a book of condolence for clients to leave their own tributes.

Margot Hunter, Dunedin Vets clinical director, said: “I wouldn’t have had anyone other than Rose as our head nurse. She was so dedicated and never said a bad word about anyone. She found something good in everyone she met and kept the nursing team at the practice together.

“She went above and beyond when it came to the care of our clients’ pets, she was very knowledgeable and knew how to handle animals.

“We are all shocked and upset by what has happened and are all trying to support one another, while coming to terms with the loss of Rose.”

Born in Somerset, Miss Usher-Smith spent part of her childhood in Oman before her family settled in Kungussie, near Aviemore.

She is survived by parents Janet and Jeremy Usher-Smith and brothers Ben and Jonathan.

All four of Dunedin Vets’ surgeries in Tranent, Dunbar, Prestonpans and North Berwick closed on the day of her funeral so colleagues could attend. The garden in keen gardener Miss Usher-Smith’s memory will be filled with roses and rosemary.