Charity News

Bransby Horses face their biggest challenge

Founded in 1968, Bransby Horses is one of the UK's largest equine welfare and rescue charities, dedicated to improving the lives of horses, ponies, donkeys and mules through rescue, rehabilitation, rehoming, education and providing specialist sanctuary care. They have nearly 1,000 equines in their care across two sites in Lincolnshire and foster homes around the country, many of whom come from situations of neglect and mistreatment. The charity have been facing the most challenging time since serious flooding of their land due to heavy rainfall in 2019. During the flooding, an additional £200,000 was needed to urgently move some of the equines from the Bransby site to Barlings, and set up temporary facilities there. At the end of 2020, the charity estimated that so far, the COVID-19 pandemic will have cost them around £100,000 in lost fundraising income since the first lockdown in March 2020. Bransby Horses rely solely on support from the general public to continue their mission to improve the lives of horses, ponies, donkeys and mules, and sadly, there are always more equines that require their help. Thanks to continued public support and people remembering them in their Will, Bransby Horses are able to continue with their welfare work and take on more equines in need during what is proving to be the most challenging time in their history. Without the legacy income they receive from generous supporters, Bransby Horses simply wouldn't be able to operate with the same scope or at the same scale as they do. With the impact of COVID-19, the charity are preparing for another tough year for equine rescue and welfare. When you leave a legacy for Bransby Horses, you are making a world of difference to this caring, hard-working charity and all the horses, ponies, donkeys and mules they look after. If you would like to remember Bransby Horses in your Will, please contact their Legacy Team on 01427 788464 or email legacy@bransbyhorses.co.uk for a free Leaving a Legacy guide. Bransbyhorses.co.uk

This handsome barn owl, one of the latest patients at Tiggywinkles, was rushed over to the hospital after he was found grounded. It was obvious straight away to the nurse on duty at the world’s busiest wildlife hospital that the owl, named Benji, was very thin and weak. On closer examination, the nurse discovered an infection of his tongue. Poor Benji was unfortunately suffering from trichomoniasis. This highly infectious disease, commonly known as ‘trich’, affects the upper digestive tracts of birds and causes a build-up in the throat, making it difficult for the bird to eat, which would explain why Benji was emaciated and struggling. It is more common in garden birds, so the team were surprised to admit a barn owl with the disease. Once Benji had received initial treatment, the experienced vet team drew up a treatment plan to bring the trich under control. Poor Benji understandably didn’t feel like eating much in his first few days at the hospital but with medication and a dedicated nursing team looking after him, the trich cleared up and he is now steadily putting weight back on! It won’t be long until he is back in the wild. If you have bird feeders or baths in your garden, it is important to regularly clean and disinfect them, as trich is spread through food or drink contaminated by a bird with the infection. Use a good disinfectant or dilute bleach and make sure you rinse them thoroughly and allow them to air dry! www.tiggywinkles.com

Choosing to leave the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCSEng) a legacy in your will can have a direct impact on the future of surgery and on the patients who receive it. Legacies have enabled them to purchase essential equipment and support a wide range of projects in surgical education and research. A one-year research fellowship, costs in the region of £65,000 and a recent bequest funded a urology surgeon whose is looking at determining the genetic drivers of bladder cancer. Bladder cancer affects approximately 10,000 people each year in the UK and is more common in older adults and men. This research aims to help sufferers of bladder cancer by looking into the genes, which play an important role in driving the cancers and their responses to treatments. In the short term, the project hopes to discover new ways to diagnose bladder cancer and predict patients’ responses to treatments and in the longer term, will aim to identify treatments that are more effective. Since the surgical fellowship scheme was founded in 1993, the number of high calibre applications has doubled and they are unable to support 80% of applicants. They are always in need of more funding to enable projects that address the health challenges of modern society, supporting the development of pioneering ideas across the NHS. With each small success, the Royal College of Surgeons of England takes another step towards the next big breakthrough. www.rcsend.ac.uk

A Trichy Patient

Making Surgery their Legacy

The name born when school friends learning of his ambition to follow a a title like that it was a job hard to refuse. maritime career coupled his cheerful demeanour with the acronym HMS, HM ventured into journalism writing shipboard newspapers aboard luxury nicknamed him Happy Mug Stevens, hence the pen name. cruise liners featuring the daily antics and shenanigans of shipboard life for the His first steps as an author came when he won a high school writing competition amusement of the passengers. with a story titled ‘The Railway Station’. During his seventeenth year, the school In his spare time and when not rattling the keyboard HM fly's a beautiful Robin annual summer holidays saw HM experiencing a taste of life at sea when he Regent light aircraft.sailed aboard a Hull based distant water trawler going to the northern fishing grounds within the Arctic Circle. Here he endured sea sickness, freezing temperatures and storms with the deck awash. Experiences which today are euphemistically known as Work Experience. He spent the remainder of the summer holidays working as a domestic bread delivery driver. What a summer that was for HM; going from the In his recently released fictional novel ‘Murky Waters’ HM was able to create by drawing on a lot of his personal experiences at home and abroad but he insists that it is by no means an autobiography. This will come later and entitled ‘Choppy Waters’... The life and times from Bilge Rat to General Manager of The World!’ a somewhat satirical look at life afloat. freezing temperatures to the soft embrace of One recent review of ‘Murky Waters’ stated the frustrated housewives, several who looked for following:imaginative ways of negotiating payment for their Adventure, romance, sex, murder, violence, and bread deliveries! more sex, from the cold north of Lincolnshire to Naval service saw him mixed up in the Congo the jungles of West Africa, the author takes us on civil war, then being rammed by an Icelandic Gun many exciting journeys in this page turner of a Boat during the ill fated ‘Cod Wars’. Some years book. Using information that can only be obtained later he was dodging incoming ordnance whilst by insiders knowledge, the author takes us through in Cyprus amid the war there between the Turks the skills and excitement of flying; the ins and outs and Greeks. Then with the task force during the of operating ships and a shipping company (and Falklands War. After which family committments the associated fiddles and frauds); and the detailed demanded he embark on a more homely, quiet description of an SAS operation against modern-day lifestyle so HM made the change from roaming the pirates – all handled with panache, humour and an seven seas by swapping his navy blue uniform for eye for detail. An excellent read, buy it and enjoy. the dark blue of a police officer where he enjoyed Currently working on his next novel, ‘Bloody Waters’ living the life of a real ‘Heartbeat’ copper in rural in keeping the theme of waters HM has plans for Project2:Layout 1 17/4/13 12:51 Page 1East Yorkshire. several other nautical Project2:Layout 1 17/4/13 12:51 Page 1 An abrupt change in personal circumstances took based adventure HM back to sea in the position as the seagoing mystery yarns. General Manager of ship called ‘The World’. With Available through Amazon in Kindle or paperback. atas CATASTROPHES CAT RESCUECATASTROPHES CAT RESCUEtrophes Cat Rescue

Over the years we have helped an increasing number of cats and kittens in distress, by taking them into our care and finding good homes for them. The cats we take in have often been abandoned or badly treated, some are simply strays who have never had the chance of a proper caring home. Our aim is to help any cat that is in need and we believe that every cat deserves the chance of a good home. Over the years we have helped an increasing number of cats and kittens in distress, by taking them into our care and finding good homes for them. The cats we take in have often been abandoned or badly treated, some are simply strays who have never had the chance of a proper caring home. Our aim is to help any cat that is in need and we believe that every cat deserves the chance of a good home. es Cat Rescue was set up through our nt in animal welfare campaigning in the s we became established and our “no-kill” ame known our work increased dramatically. e cats have been abandoned or are simply a new home because of a change in people’s ces. Some have been ill treated. They are of love and care. home environment with the freedom of the country garden that surrounds the sanctuary. Our work with feral cats involves spaying and neutering complete colonies and giving any necessary veterinary treatment. Feral cats are returned to their site of capture if long-term food and shelter can be provided. If not, they are relocated to a suitable farm or country home or have a home for life with us with complete freedom TorquayTorquay We do not believe in putting animals to sleep unnecessarily and we actively encourage sterilisation as a vital part of pet ownership. Please remember us in your will. Your donation or legacy will help our work for the animals and save lives. Contact Liz Varney Catastrophes Cat Rescue Half Moon Cottage, Bakers Lane, Dallington, Heathfield, East Sussex TN21 9JS Tel: 01435 830212 Fax: 01825 768012 Email: lizzie@internationalanimalrescue.org Registered Charity Number: 1017304 We do not believe in putting animals to sleep unnecessarily and we actively encourage sterilisation as a vital part of pet ownership. Please remember us in your will. Your donation or legacy will help our work for the animals and save lives. Contact Liz Varney Catastrophes Cat Rescue Half Moon Cottage, Bakers Lane, Dallington, Heathfield, East Sussex TN21 9JS Tel: 01435 830212 Fax: 01825 768012 Email: lizzie@internationalanimalrescue.org Registered Charity Number: 1017304 s always been to help any cat regardless of rament or behaviour problems, be they wild onsequently we tend to get desperate calls for erly, feral and ‘difficult’ to re-home cats. In eet these needs we have had to become a s well as a cat rescue and re-homing n. The cats in our care are given a high veterinary care and we strongly believe and neutering as a responsible part of pet The cats that are difficult to re-home are hance to live out their days in a peaceful once they have settled in. We believe every cat deserves a chance to have a safe, caring and peaceful place to live and enjoy the rest of their lives. Its surprising how often the most seemingly unfriendly and so called ‘spiteful’ cat that arrives hissing, spitting and lashing out, or has the most difficult and anti-social habits and behaviour, can change with love, care and lots of patience. Catastrophes believe that every life saved is worth the effort it takes and with your support more cats in need will have a bright future. Catastrophes Cat Rescue For further information: Contact Liz Varney Half Moon Cottage, Bakers Lane, Dallington, Heathfield, East Sussex, TN21 9JS Tel. 01435 830212, Fax 01825 768012, Email: lizzie@catastrophescats.org Visit us on The small hotel with a big heart and a big view... in the heart of Torquay www.tlh.co.uk sales@tlh.co.uk 01803 400500 Great times...guaranteed Great choice Great entertainment • Great facilities • Great value We’re social, join us on The small hotel with a big heart and a big view... in the heart of Torquay www.tlh.co.uk sales@tlh.co.uk 01803 400500 Great times...guaranteed Great choice Great entertainment • Great facilities • Great value We’re social, join us on Catastrophes Cat Rescue Half Moon Cottage, Bakers Lane, Dallington, Heathfield, East Sussex TN21 9JS Tel: 01435 830212 Mobile: 07912 113392 Email: lizzie@catastrophescats.org Registered Charity Number: 1017304 Visitors welcome by appointment

Lyle House Care Home

Luxury residential and dementia care

We understand how difficult things are for the elderly population right now. If you’re concerned about how your relative is coping and would like them to have more support, Lyle House provides family-led care in a luxurious and homely environment. Our highly trained staff follow thorough practices to ensure the health and wellbeing of all those in our care, allowing them to live safely and as they wish.

020 8878 3806

207 Arabella Drive, Roehampton, London, SW15 5LH

www.countrycourtcare.com

Join the Country Court family, near you.

Country Court operate 33 beautiful, family-led care homes across the UK. To find out if we have something available near you, please visit www.countrycourtcare.com