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Thank you Elizabeth, it seems so wrong that such a caring person should have to suffer so much, losing his parents so ending up in an orphanage, then losing his wife to mrsa, having such a battle to keep the animal sanctuary going and recently having the hassle of people reporting him out of spite, and saying he had already died, it must all have contributed to his final stroke. He was rushed to hospital not so long back with a heart attack but still came back to battle on.
A brave man - he is the sort of man who needed honours from the Queen, not stupid footballers and such and people who only think of themselves.
Lizx
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Dear Purple Sparkly Diamond
Hello
Very sorry to hear of the passing of this very good man.
What a caring human being.
Sending warm and gentle thoughts to his family and friends.
Very sincere wishes
xx
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More tributes for well-loved animal sanctuary founder and campaigner
Keith Hall
TRACEY GRAY
09 September 2009 17:00
Tributes have been paid to a man, who dedicated his life to helping animals in distress, after he died of a stroke.
Keith Hall, 63, pictured right, who ran Hallswood Animal Sanctuary with his wife, Lyz, died at the sanctuary on Sunday morning after suffering a major stroke.
He had been battling with throat cancer after being diagnosed earlier this year and had been treating the disease with homeopathic treatment and special medicines from Mexico.
As tributes poured in for the tireless animal lover, his devastated wife vowed to keep the sanctuary going in his honour.
She said: “I am deeply upset by his death, but I want to keep the sanctuary on as a memorial to him. I also want to thank everyone for their continued support at this time.”
Mr Hall had been working with animals since his teenage years.
An orphan, he was brought up in a children's home in the south east of England, and it was his passion for animals which he said had kept him out of scrapes.
He became so successful that he had three animal sanctuaries in Essex by the 1970s, one of which was the Brentwood Bird and Animal Sanctuary.
When his then wife Anne suffered a stroke, they decided to move to the country and set up a smaller sanctuary in Stratton Strawless, which was to become Hallswood Animal Sanctuary.
In 2003, Anne was diagnosed with MRSA while in hospital and died from the disease. It was this that led Mr Hall to become chairman of an MRSA support group campaigning for better conditions in hospitals.
In 2004, he was joined at the sanctuary by Lyz who went on to become his wife.
Mr Hall, despite suffering several heart attacks and strokes over the years, was also at the forefront of a campaign to urge the government to make microchipping of animals law.
In 2006, the Evening News reported how a decision by Broadland District Council to serve an eviction notice on Mr Hall was overturned. They argued the sanctuary's location in conservation woodland was unsuitable and contravened planning laws.
The threat of closure prompted a wave of strong public backing for the sanctuary, including letters and emails from overseas and support from local vets and the RSPB.
Mr Hall took his fight to the House of Lords and the eviction notice was eventually overturned.
In an interview in July last year, he said: “I will be working at the sanctuary until the day I die because it is my home and because I am doing what I love.”
Kelly-Marie Lumley, who works at Hallswood, said: “The work Keith has done over the years is highly commendable and the countless animals he has saved from suffering shows what a caring man he was. Caring for animals wasn't just a job to Keith, it was a real passion and was his life's work.
“He will be greatly missed by so many including myself and was a truly inspirational man.
“I would like to take this opportunity to also praise Lyz for the excellent work she has done over the years with Keith. They really made an exceptional team and although Lyz will miss him dreadfully, I know she will do her utmost to carry on the good work even though Keith is no longer with her as this too is her passion and life's work”.
George Rockingham, at Pact Animal Sanctuary in Woodrising, Hingham, said: “We have worked with Keith since we set up the sanctuary in 1995.
“He helped us get off the ground and donated two vehicles which we used as ambulances. He is a terrific loss to the wildlife rescue industry, particularly in Norfolk, and he cannot be replaced. I would urge everyone now to help Lyz as much as they can.”
Wendy Valentine, who runs Hillside Animal Sanctuary in Frettenham, said: “We send our condolences to the family. Keith was a great man who cared for animals and will be greatly missed.”
Mr Hall's funeral will be held at Horsham St Faith's Crematorium on Wednesday, September 16, at 4.15pm and anyone who would like to come is welcome.
The request is that there is no deep mourning, so people do not have to feel compelled to wear black.
There are no flowers, by request, but donations to the welfare of the animals would be appreciated.
Any donations can be sent payable to Jerry March Funeral Services, Horsford, Norwich - mark “animal welfare fund” on donations.
The sanctuary also needs donations of anything that would be of help for the animals, including towels, blankets, sheds, pet food, shingle, hutches, cages and wood.
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I am so sad to have just read the following in our local paper online. Keith was an amazing man who cared for all animals, he and his wife set up the Hallswood sanctuary some years ago. It's not far from here and I have met him a few times.
His wife died I think after contracting mrsa in hospital and he campaigned for better cleaning in hospitals as well as continuing to look after the animals. He found a new partner and life was plodding on altho he had an ongoing battle with local councils over planning permission which was very stressful and costly, but finally he won through. By then he had contracted the cancer and has been in and out of hospital, but always his main concern has been the sanctuary. Recently there have been some malicious calls to the rspca which have caused visits that have shown the animals are well cared for, and also someone reported he had died, so he had an article in the paper about that, saying he was still fighting back. I guess all the stress and worry has been too much for him, and sadly now he really has lost his battle to live.
There are so many bad people in the world who sail through life without a care, yet someone who does their best suffers like this. I can only wish Lyz and all the staff luck in continuing the sanctuary and hope they will get every support from the public.
Rest in peace Keith.
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Tributes pour in for wildlife sanctuary hero Keith Hall
Keith Hall
08 September 2009 20:23
Tributes have been paid to the owner of an animal sanctuary who has died after battling cancer.
Keith Hall, 62, who ran Hallswood Animal Sanctuary with his wife, Lyz, died on Sunday morning after suffering a major stroke.
He had been battling with throat cancer after being diagnosed with the disease earlier this year.
Mr Hall's wife, Lyz is said to be devastated but has vowed to keep the sanctuary going.
Kelly-Marie Lumley, who works at Hallswood, said: “The sanctuary is still open as usual and would like people's support to help keep it running. There is a lot more work on Lyz's shoulders but it is important to her and Keith's wishes were that the sanctuary remains open.”
Keith's funeral will be held at Horsham St Faith's Crematorium on Wednesday September 16at 4.15pm and anyone who would like to come would be very welcome.
Keith and Lyz's request is there is no deep mourning, so people do not have to feel compelled to wear black.
There are no flowers by request but donations to the welfare of the animals would be appreciated.
Any donations can be sent payable to Jerry March Funeral Services Horsford Norwich. Please mark "animal welfare fund on any donations".
To contact the sanctuary, call Kelly-Marie 07789681700 or email [email protected]
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