A centenarian dog walker and two prolific foster carers are among eight RSPCA volunteers chosen to be Coronation Champions as part of King Charles III’s May festivities.
The excellent eight were among a field of several thousand volunteers nominated by a host of charities. They have now been whittled down to 500 champions in recognition of their sterling voluntary service across the country and within their communities.
RSPCA volunteers Sally Field, Tracey Hamilton, Mollie Swadkins, Maureen Austin, Oz Locke, John and Cora Kitchen and Chelsea Carratt were selected by a high-profile panel of judges and will receive a specially-designed commemorative pin badge and certificate. They will also be offered the opportunity to attend events taking place to mark the Coronation, including the star-studded concert on May 7 and garden party.
The Coronation Champions is a competition supported by Her Majesty the Queen Consort and is part of the official Coronation programme, which runs alongside the large volunteering initiative The Big Help Out on May 8.
At the grand older age of 104, Sally (pictured with the late Paul O’Grady at an Animal Hero Awards ceremony) has had to wind down her regular dog walking sessions at RSPCA Millbrook Animal Centre in Chobham, Surrey. But the RSPCA wanted to ensure the dedicated volunteer – who has been a fixture at the centre for 42 years – was given the recognition she deserves. image.png
Sally used to walk up to 10 dogs a week at Millbrook and pitched in helping at the centre’s cafe and with its fundraising activities.
Maureen (pictured) is also a volunteer at Millbrook where she has helped with the cattery’s busy rehoming programme for 14 years. She is a prolific fosterer of the centre’s cats and around 200 felines have passed through her experienced hands over the years. The 78-year-old takes the most nervous cats and provides a caring touch – including hand-rearing kittens – to get them ready for rehoming.
“It’s a tremendous honour to be nominated as I enjoy the work so much,” said Maureen, who also trains new volunteers at the cattery. “I’m so pleased that Millbrook trusts me with the cats. They can be so frightened and it is so nice to get them ready for a new home.
“We don’t always know the cats’ full back stories, but it is so satisfying to help them. I’m looking after Hank at the moment and when he first came to me he spent a week under the bed. But I spend time with each one and they soon feel more secure. I have a room set aside for them; sometimes it’s a pair, sometimes a mother and her kittens, but I enjoy looking after them all.”
Tracey is a dog fosterer at RSPCA West Hatch Animal Centre, where she takes on many of the centre’s most difficult cases, providing each canine with a loving environment while they are rehabilitated ready to find a permanent home. She fosters dogs with serious behavioural and health problems, including those that are affected by disabilities.
