Practice Team
Comprised of GPs, nutritionists, dietitians, and practice managers, the Practice Team will guide your workshops and consultations, as well as oversee your medical assessments, providing dedicated support throughout your time with Combe Grove.
Ruth Gretton
Ruth qualified as a Registered Nurse at the Bath School of Nursing in 1980 before working in the NHS at St Martin’s Hospital in Bath in acute medical care for older people where she was promoted to Ward Sister.
Further qualifications followed with a Diploma in Nursing (Distinction) from the University of London in 1995 and a BSC Hons in Specialist Palliative Care from the University of West of England in 2008.
From 2004 Ruth worked at Dorothy House Hospice near Bath as Ward Sister of the Inpatient Unit until her retirement in 2020 as Director of Patient and Family Services.
Throughout her nursing career, Ruth cared for patients experiencing the life-changing impact of chronic ill health. It, therefore, seemed fitting to her that she came out of retirement to work on the creation of the Combe Grove Metabolic Health Retreat, a proactive way to help people improve personal metabolic health thereby reducing the risk of developing life limiting metabolic diseases.
Dr Campbell Murdoch
Campbell is a GP with a special interest in metabolic health. He works within the NHS as a GP in Somerset and delivers programmes with Preventative Healthcare Group to support people to take control of their health.
Having undertaken over 100,000 patient consultations it became very evident that poor metabolic health is the modern-day challenge, causing health conditions that affect most of the population. This spans type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, dementia, high blood pressure, some cancer, fertility problems, heart disease, musculoskeletal conditions, infection risk and many more. Poor metabolic health can also affect mental health and general physical wellbeing. But it’s a problem that cannot be fixed with more pills. The solutions lie in addressing the root causes. Through doing this the expectation is people can reverse prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, improve blood pressure, lose belly fat, and feel well again.
Campbell also has a background in Sports and Exercise Medicine, Quality Improvement, and Teaching. He is a clinical advisor to the Royal College of General Practitioners and a scientific advisor to the Public Health Collaboration.
Dr Rebecca Hiscutt. PhD.
Rebecca has worked in nutrition for 20 years since graduating from the University of Surrey with a 1st class degree in nutrition and dietetics. She began her career as a research dietitian investigating five popular weight loss diets. Over 6 months Rebecca helped to support 300 people to make significant lifestyle changes and improve their metabolic health.
Rebecca continued researching the effects of nutrition on metabolic health during her doctoral research investigating the effects of low carbohydrate diets on cardiovascular risk factors. Throughout her PhD, Rebecca was a partner in a private dietetic practice providing personalised nutrition advice to help people with metabolic syndrome, gastrointestinal conditions and weight loss.
Rebecca has also worked as an obesity specialist dietitian for the charity Weight Concerns and had dietetic roles in both NHS and private hospitals.
For the past 8 years, Rebecca has run a nutrition and wellbeing company to help people discover how to use food to enable them to thrive. This has involved running nutrition, yoga and mindfulness retreats, providing nutrition coaching to individuals and running nutrition training sessions for organisations.
Cristy Dean
Cristy graduated from University with a first-class degree in Nutrition and Dietetics where she spent many years working in a range of NHS hospitals, supporting varied patient groups.
Early in her career she helped to facilitate a study 'Investigating the use of app-based dietetic support in the remission of Type 2 Diabetes', which produced favourable results.
From here, she stepped into the digital health arena as a Specialist Diabetes Dietitian and Practice Manager for Oviva. At the time, Oviva were a start-up company, which grew over several years to become a successful company working alongside the NHS.
Oliver Pratt
Oli has been practising combined healing for over thirty years following his journey to a more holistic way of life after a virus in his late teens impacted his own physical and mental health. A qualified Nutritionist, Mindfulness Meditation Teacher, Reiki Master, mBIT Coach and Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Oli uses his unique combination of skills, knowledge, and life experience to help support others to make meaningful and sustainable changes to find their best health and wellbeing.
A strong advocate of the Combe Grove Food Ethos, Oli was the pioneering Executive Chef for Bristol’s iconic Watershed, developing and delivering The Plot to Plate Ethos and transforming the catering operation with ethically sourced, nutrient dense, food at a commercial level. Today Oli uses his love of fresh, locally sourced ingredients and culinary skills as an important element in providing nutritional health to his clients.
In his private practice and at Combe Grove Oli works on the basis that we are all individual and unique and therefore require individual protocols, plans and tools based on the Five Roots of Metabolic Health to facilitate personal change.
Emma Patch
Emma gained her nutritional experience from working in the food industry. She has also worked with children aged between 5-15 and their families. Emma works across three different sections; leading the Dining Room Team, developing menus and updating nutritiics with the Chefs and working with retreat clients on 1:1 consultations.
Adam Johnston
The initial driving force behind Adam attending Ulster University to complete a BSc in Human Nutrition with 1st class honours and a subsequent MSc in Sports and Exercise Nutrition was a deep interest in both bodybuilding and combat sports. Both of which are heavily influenced and arguably won or lost in the kitchen.
After graduating, Adam founded a company with his friend from University focusing on nutrition for elite level athletes and were fortunate to work with some of the best boxers in the UK. He then moved into performance coaching for individuals who wanted to change their physique and life. This evolved over years and grew to incorporate many of the principles taught at Combe Grove.
Graham Eastgate
Graham has been an accredited strength and conditioning coach (ASCC) with the UK Strength and Conditioning Association for over 13 years. He gained a BSc First Class Honours degree in Sports Strength and Conditioning and an MSc, with Distinction, in the same subject, both from the University of Gloucestershire. Graham’s research focused on nutrition, examining the effect of plant-based protein on the rate of recovery from exercise, in comparison with whey protein.
Graham has previously coached elite amateur and professional athletes and para-athletes across several sporting disciplines, within the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme and the Army Elite Sport Programme. For the last five years, Graham has worked in professional sport as the first team strength and conditioning coach at Forest Green Rovers Football Club.
At Combe Grove, Graham is leading the Metabolic Membership. He coordinates between all relevant departments including the Practice Team and Coach House Team.
Felicity Andrews
Felicity is one of Combe Grove’s longest-serving and most beloved members of full-time staff. Having come from a background of over 12 years in front-of-house roles Felicity has worked across departments at Combe Grove but always comes back to her first love of hospitality and customer service. Never without a beaming smile and can-do attitude, Felicity welcomes getting to know all guests who visit the Estate and helping them to make the most out of their time. She is exceptionally proud to have mentored 5 Apprentices in Business Administration during her time at Combe Grove and looks forward to supporting many more in the future.
Felicity has a BA Honours Degree in Fashion and Textiles and a lifelong passion for Irish Dancing in which she competes nationally. Competing in such a high-intensity discipline has given Felicity a true appreciation of how important it is to take good care of all 5 roots of metabolic health – nutrition, movement, sleep, mindset and environment.
Coach House Team
Located in the heart of movement at Combe Grove, the Coach House Team supports you in movement-based classes and activities.
Chris Spreadbury
Chris has recently returned to his hometown of Bath having spent the last 10 years in Kent gaining a vast amount of experience in both Nutrition and Fitness. He has a BSc in Exercise, Nutrition and Health and is an active Nutrition Society Member.
Chris spent 7 years working as a Paediatric Nutritionist in Primary Schools across Dartford and Gravesham helping establish the success of the Don’t Sit Get Fit Program. He is a very experienced NWK Crossfit Coach and has managed a Crossfit gym, staff, and members for the last 7yrs. He has worked privately as an adult nutritionist, helping community members and athletes whilst working closely with healthcare professionals, physiotherapists, osteopaths, personal trainers and nutritionists.
Invaluable to his role as Coach House Manager, Chris has practical metabolic health experience from recently heading up a new pilot scheme in Kent working closely with GPs as a Health and Wellbeing Coach seeing patients on a one-to-one basis to help improve blood sugar levels, BMI, blood pressure and weight, as part of a healthy lifestyle.
Jules Lowrie
Jules has been teaching popular movement classes at Combe Grove for over 15 years and has enjoyed taking a proactive role in the evolution from Hotel to Centre for Health and Wellbeing.
With level 2 qualifications in Fitness Exercise to Music, Body Pump, Body Balance Advanced and Yoga Teacher Training Jules’ interest in metabolic health is a given. Her other interests include walking, playing tennis, swimming and skiing.
Jules’ advice for clients starting out on their metabolic health journey is to always be ready to try new challenges and make a turnaround in their life.
Kitchen Team
Behind each nourishing meal, the Kitchen Team creates balanced, metabolically friendly dishes to support your health goals.
Marco Appel
Marco grew up in the Netherlands where he attained his Cheffing Degree before relocating to England.
Marco brings a wealth of experience with him to Combe Grove and is passionate about home cooked, quality food, having worked in some widely recognised restaurants in Bath, including the Green Park Brasserie, the Hole in the Wall, The Olive Tree and the Northey Arms.
Rachel Milsom
Rachel trained in General Senior Catering and Patisserie at college in Bristol. Since then she has won prestigious awards as part of a team including Taste of the West at Bath Soft Cheese and Chefs of Distinction for Desserts.
Rachel has previously worked with Chef Marco at Taste Buds Catering.
Welcome Team
Your first point of contact at Combe Grove, the Welcome Team are here to greet you warmly upon arrival and assist with any questions you may have during your residential stay.
Hilary Woods
Hilary has been a calm and welcoming presence at Combe Grove for the past five years. Familiar to both club members and Metabolic Health Retreat clients alike, if there’s something you need to know Hilary can help.
After University Hilary trained in Law before moves to the Middle East and then the Far East led to some fascinating roles including English Secretary to The Minister of Agriculture based in Yemen before retraining and pursuing a rewarding career as a teacher.
On returning to England Hilary used her years of multi-tasking and customer interaction to set up and run an award-winning guest house near Bath instilling her love of good hospitality.
Hilary has always been interested in health and nutrition, especially in the essential role it plays in the prevention and treatment of cancer and diabetes.
Jon Main
Jon has been a familiar face on the Combe Grove Estate for the past 13 years working in many customer-facing departments including Banqueting, Conferences and Concierge. With a total of 18 years in hospitality, Jon particularly enjoys finding ways to tap into the mindset of customers and developing his skillset accordingly whilst creating a peaceful grounding environment for members and guests alike.
Jon enjoys his role being immersed in a place of such historical beauty and significance where he can combine his interests in customer psychology and history. Frequently found with a metal detector exploring the Estate recent finds have included Roman commemorative coins and a Celtic terret ring from a chariot.
Fitness and wellbeing come high in Jon’s daily focus with running as his main passion and cycling and general sports diversifying his time.
Specialist Contributors
Dr Jen Unwin, DPsy, FBPsS
Dr. Jen Unwin BSc, MSc, DPsy, FBPsS, is a highly regarded consultant clinical health psychologist and in the United Kingdom. She is also the author of Fork in the Road: A Hopeful Guide to Food Freedom.
With a focus on chronic illness management and patient wellbeing, Dr. Unwin works within the NHS and collaborates closely with her GP husband, Dr. David Unwin, to support patients in making and maintaining transformative lifestyle changes. Driven by her own journey with food addiction recovery, Dr. Unwin has played a pivotal role in developing Combe Grove's Food Addiction Programme, bringing a unique perspective rooted in both professional expertise and lived experience.
An advocate for the recognition of food addiction as a condition, she collaborates with international experts to elevate awareness and establish treatment pathways. Dr. Unwin is a fellow of the British Psychological Society and formerly chaired the UK Association for Solution Focused Practice, reflecting her deep commitment to empowering patients toward sustainable health and resilience.
Heidi Giaever
Heidi Giaever is a dedicated nutrition consultant with lived experience in food addiction recovery, which has informed her invaluable contributions to the development of Combe Grove's Food Addiction Programme. Her work in the health sector spans nutrition consultancy, lifestyle medicine, and specialised coaching in areas like metabolic health, sustainable weight management, diabetes remission, and real-food approaches to holistic wellbeing. Through her practice, she also provides essential guidance to those navigating addictive food behaviours, helping clients achieve healthier, lasting lifestyle changes.
Heidi is a certified X-PERT Diabetes Coach and offers food addiction counselling, with her primary focus on empowering individuals to achieve improved metabolic health and balanced relationships with food. Guided by her life motto, "Happy are those who dream dreams and are willing to pay the price to make them come true," Heidi supports each client's journey towards a healthier and more fulfilling life.
Dr Juliet Balfour
Dr Juliette Balfour brings extensive expertise to her menopause programme talks at Combe Grove, drawing on over 30 years of experience as an NHS GP. Since 2002, she has served the community at Glastonbury Surgery and now runs the Somerset NHS Menopause Service. Recognised as a Menopause Specialist by the British Menopause Society (BMS) and a member of its Medical Advisory Council, Dr Balfour also holds an Advanced Certificate in Menopause Care from the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. In addition, she is a member of both the International Menopause Society and the Primary Care Women’s Health Forum, as well as a Diplomate of both the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare.
Dr Ian Lake
Dr. Ian Lake, a founder member of The Public Health Collaboration (phcuk.org), has spent nearly four decades serving as a doctor in the NHS, primarily as a general practitioner. Diagnosed with LADA Type 1 Diabetes at 36, he initially managed his condition through conventional methods. However, a shift to a very low carbohydrate lifestyle a decade ago led to remarkable improvements in blood glucose control and daily life, reducing the frequency and severity of hypoglycemic episodes. This personal transformation inspired Dr. Lake to support others with Type 1 Diabetes in exploring the benefits of low-carb diets. Dr Ian Lake contributed on developing Combe Grove's Type 1 Diabetes Programme, bringing his insights and commitment to real food lifestyles and metabolic health to support and empower others.
Katie and Giancarlo Caldesi
Katie and Giancarlo Caldesi bring their wealth of personal experience to the Prediabetes Programme at Combe Grove, inspiring participants with Giancarlos journey of overcoming Type 2 diabetes through a low-carb lifestyle. Together, they founded La Cucina Caldesi Ltd, an Italian cookery school that offers a unique culinary experience where Katie, Giancarlo, and Head Chef Stefano Borella share the secrets of Italian cuisine.
In 2011, Giancarlo was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, which prompted him to take charge of his health by adopting a low-carb, gluten-free lifestyle. His diagnosis marked a significant turning point for both Giancarlo and Katie, who began exploring recipes that aligned with these dietary changes. Through their journey, they encountered a supportive community of low-carb advocates and connected with Dr David Unwin, a pioneering GP who supports diabetic patients in remission through dietary adjustments. This collaboration led to their bestselling book, The Diabetes Weight-loss Cookbook, written in partnership with Dr. David and Dr. Jen Unwin, and became a foundation for four more books focused on low-carb eating and Type 2 diabetes remission.
Today, with Giancarlo's diabetes in remission and his HbA1c levels within the normal range, the Caldesis are passionate about helping others reclaim their health through lifestyle changes. Their story and expertise provide encouragement and practical guidance for those looking to improve their metabolic health and achieve similar life-changing results.
Pauline Cox MSc
A FUNCTIONAL NUTRITIONIST, AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR, AND CO-FOUNDER OF LOW-CARB SPECIALISTS SOW & ARROW.
With a passion for integrating ancient wisdom with modern medicine, Pauline has extensive knowledge in human science and alternative medicine. Having studied for her first Bachelor of Science in Anatomical Science at University of Bristol, Pauline went on to study Physiotherapy at University of West of England. Following a career in Physiotherapy, specialising in musculoskeletal pain and women’s health, Pauline went on to study for a Masters at University of Bristol in Nutrition, Physical Activity and Public Health. Her most recent Master level training is in Integrative Medicine. As a speaker, author and passionate advocate for natural medicine, Pauline enjoys translating complex science into easy to understand, practical information that empowers people to take their health into their own hands.
