The many forms of public service - August 15

This week the Observer carries stories giving two instances.

Though both involve women, the subject matter could not be more different.

When Vicky Willard woke to find a "wall of smoke" she did not panic. Instead, she carried out a text-book response.

She grabbed her seven month-old baby, Shay, alerted a neighbour, called the emergency services and evacuated the building.

This was public service of the quick-thinking-in-an-emergency kind.

Animal sanctuary founder Barby Keel's public service is of the extended variety.

Who else would be so devoted to the welfare of animals that they would live in a shed in order to be close at hand?

That's what Barby did in the early days, later substituting the shed for the comparative luxury of an on-site caravan before building a permanent home next to her beloved animals.

Barby has run her sanctuary for so long that it '“ and she '“ are virtually town institutions.

The place is a little like Noah's Ark. Anyone finding a stray cat or dog knows that, somehow, Barby will find room for them if its physically possible.

....Not to mention pigs, goats, ponies....

Sometimes public service comes at a price. Barby has been in remission from breast cancer. For the past five years her loyal supporters have held their breath and hoped that this tough fighter had warded off the disease.

It was entirely typical that when she received the news that she now needs surgery Barby should tell her consultant that she couldn't possibly go into hospital before the sanctuary's annual open day.

As usual, Sunday's event drew the crowds. As usual, animal-lovers spent generously and the day produced a colossal 8,000.

It's a pity animals can't express their feelings '“ though Barby would doubtless maintain that they can.

If it were possible, they would be joining her legion of supporters in wishing Barby success in the latest of her battles.

As Barby puts it in her inimitable way: "What do you do? You either get on with it or roll across the floor and give up. And there's no way I would do that."

Nobody ever imagined she would!

Good luck, Barby.