Barby Keel Open Day

Visitors flowed into the rescue centre in Freezeland Lane all Sunday afternoon to catch up on the work being done there and sample the old-fashioned village summer fete atmosphere.

And enjoy they did - the attractions included a vast array of stalls, games, raffles, tombola, refreshments, bargains and bric-a-brac.

Volunteer Diana Fenner who lives at the Sanctuary and describes herself as "head go-fer" was in charge of the book sale.

She said: "We have around 150-200 cats here at the moment, 200 chickens - we have everything from mice up to cows."

She has been helping Barby for 30 years having started off as a volunteer who came once a month to take dogs out for their walk.

"Barby gets us all going really - she organises us all. She has given her life to this and we are just helpers.

"The word that comes to mind to describe her is 'feisty'...she is absolutely dedicated, and I think she is one in a million."

The open day was the achievement of many volunteers carrying out different tasks, but Diana singled out Christine Haker for her work on flowers and planting around the sanctuary, and her work in organising the cattery.

Another longtime volunteer was Kathleen Stephenson on the Trustee stall, selling a range of homemade jams, chutneys and marmalade, as well as household goods.

"Every little helps - it costs 6,000 per month to feed all the animals and 2,000 per month for vets' bills,"

Pamela Weeks was nearby on the stationary stall selling a wide range of greetings cards.

She commented: "I think there has been a few people here today - I have seen lots of different faces. We have worked so hard for the animals."

Providing music for the afternoon was Chris Metalle on the melodion, who played a variety of favourite old songs and tunes, having been rated highly by Barby herself who said that musicians in the past "had driven everybody mad".