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T O P I C R E V I E W
precious
Posted - 08 Jun 2009 : 1:52:37 PM Hope admin doesn’t mind this A lady by me who was a dear friend of some people on here sadly lost her brave fight to cancer on the 25th May. We are now trying to get the 8 very large well loved and cared for horses she had re-homed, Blue Cross are going to do all they can for some of them.
If you are local to the west midlands local tack shops will have collection boxes and our local show will be holding fundraising collection points also. VJC is main contact for the Anne Wilkes Blue Cross Appeal
VJC can you post the pic of Anne and Harley I cant do it at work x
VJC talking about Anne
Anne Wilkes, a very special lady, sadly passed away on march 25th 2009 aged just 57yrs after a long and very brave fight against cancer. Ann was one of life’s true animal lovers and despite her own failing health and offers of help from her family and friends continued to care for her horse’s right up until the end. Over the years Anne has saved and re-homed many animals, especially horses with which she had a special affinity, horses that had no one else to turn too. Along life’s path we meet extraordinary people, Anne was one of those people, her life was her horses. Please if you can help us raise funds for the blue cross who are trying to help the horses left behind, after all it is only fitting that Ann who always helped so many other horses in need, now has help for her own beloved horses.
RIP Anne Wilkes
19 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First)
Tracey@ET
Posted - 12 Jul 2009 : 07:25:27 AM What a wonderful woman Anne Wilkes was, these lovely horses are sure to miss there Mum and its lovely to know they all have been re homed, they are all a credit to Anne the pictures show happy healthy horses. Did not know Anne but this story has touched me ..........
RIP Anne Wilkes your babies are safe
BabsR
Posted - 11 Jul 2009 : 4:13:37 PM Yes.........they really were Anne`s pride and Joy...in Winter, they all had New Zealand Rugs on to keep the cold and wet out. However Anne managed to sling those huge Shires rugs over their backs, I will never know as she was only slightly built and not very tall
They were bucket fed all through the Winter with ad-lib hay, in large round bales. In the Summer...it was lotions and potions on their pink noses and sprays to keep the flies from pestering.
One can only hope that these elderly ladies and gentlemen receive the same doting care with their new, carefully selected owners.
I`m sure Anne will still be watching over them. Rest Peacefully Anne
Posted - 11 Jul 2009 : 2:54:03 PM Precious i had never been in the field with them untill yesterday either, only ever saw them over the fence, and believe me they are huge!!! i am nearly 5ft 10" and when simon, vicky, and george came over i felt like a midget so big yet so gentle!!! i can see why Anne loved them so much! Simon has so much presence! i think he is a shire on the outside, but an arab on the inside
precious
Posted - 10 Jul 2009 : 10:17:59 PM i never got to see annes horses close up they were always off eating when i rode past. The pictures just go to show how well anne loved and cared for the horses as its not easy keeping that many heavy horses in great condition. Anne you did those horses proud RIP xx
Nut
Posted - 10 Jul 2009 : 10:10:09 PM Lovely horses, well done for finding them new homes x
vjc
Posted - 10 Jul 2009 : 9:23:20 PM I just wanted to post these pictures as promised of Annes horses before they leave for their new homes, most of them are aged but look in super condition, a testement to how well anne looked after them all.
HARLEY SIMON AND GEORGE
VICKY
LITTLE SOPHIE
SIMON
RUBY
NIGEL
HARLEY
GEORGE
ANN MARIE
alison
Posted - 08 Jul 2009 : 2:39:05 PM Yes agree with Geri, what lovely people you are to make sure that Anne's horse's are well looked after. RIP Anne and God Bless
Ali
Gerri
Posted - 08 Jul 2009 : 10:30:57 AM R.I P Anne, What a lovely story, and happy ending and how wonderful that she had people in her life that moved heaven and earth to safegaurd her precious animals futures, ALL OF YOU ARE WONDERFUL AND WILL BE BLESSED FOR YOUR EFFORTS
vjc
Posted - 08 Jul 2009 : 10:02:16 AM Hi Folks i just wanted to post an update on the latest regarding Annes eight horses. It has been an amazing few weeks and the genorosity of people considering the credit crunch has been so heartwarming. Well it has all paid off as we now have some good news! The blue cross are taking two shires and two ponies, and a fabulous hame has been found for the other three aged shires with a guy who already has two of his own!!! while the other pony was bequeathed to a friend before Anne sadly lost her cancer battle. Please keep fingers crossed that all goes well with the big move on Monday, moving such big horses is going to be a huge task literally!!! Anne can finally rest in peace knowing her babies are safe.
vjc
Posted - 23 Jun 2009 : 3:24:58 PM Yes bychens mom (i must know you????) tina has kindly offered to help with the man power needed, or should that be woman power! and i think neachels are going to help also, not sure what costs are involved yet but i am sure they will be very fair under the circumstances. The longest haul is to the blue cross at rolleston. You are right about the goats, i met them too!!! along with the pigeons, parrots, chickens, ducks, terrapins, and any other creature that needed annes tlc! my friend says her horse keeps stopping at annes gate for her carrot, so many horses that passed got that daily treat! Here is a picture taken of Anne in the early seventies with one of the rescues Ellie May and the foal she produced Yanto. My friend Bev bought Yanto and he had a lovely life.
brychens mum
Posted - 23 Jun 2009 : 3:13:27 PM RIP Anne
I used to chat with her when I hacked past her yard. One of lifes great characters. I never forget popping round to her house and meeting the two goats that lived in the coal shed (when not in the kitchen,front room or garden)at her very urban semi detached!
Have you tried giving Tina who keeps the big percheron at Trevor Nechells a call? She has a huge box for her Percharon and might be able to help. I dont have her phone number but Johnson Borthers tack shop may have it.
precious
Posted - 23 Jun 2009 : 2:55:55 PM excellent news VJC, x well done for your excellent fundraiser on sunday it was a great show.
vjc
Posted - 23 Jun 2009 : 2:36:38 PM Just wanted to post an update on Annes horses. It has been a very busy time for everyone involved in finding new homes and also raising funds to help with the re-homing.
Thanks go out to many people...
THE BLUE CROSS
Beacon horse show
Johnson brothers feeds
andy tack
roxana saddlery
sunray stud
and many many more people including many of the late annes friends.
The good news is all eight of Annes beloved horses, including five shires have found new homes, four with the blue cross and the others with very special homes.Funds are still being collected to help with the huge expense of moving the shires who obviously need special transport. Anne can rest in peace now knowing all her babies are safe.
Karon
Posted - 08 Jun 2009 : 6:54:23 PM Will PM you, Precious, with contact email of someone who may possibly be able to help.
vjc
Posted - 08 Jun 2009 : 6:10:17 PM Thanks Gemma for posting about Anne, as Babs Ray has already said she was one of lifes real angels. I have known Anne nearly 40yrs and in all that time she has denied herself any of lifes luxuries and cycled everywhere prefering not to waste money on cars, money that could be better spent on her animals, not just horses, she had a home full of creatures that had for one reason or another ended up in her care! I have driven past her in all weathers, blizzards, torrential rain, searing heat, seen her balancing all sorts of things needed for the horses on her handlebars, and yet she still managed a smile and a wave as i passed by. Annes bravery as she battled her illness was astounding, she refused help, and was there for her horses to the end. The blue cross are doing all they can to help with Annes horses so in turn all her friends are fundraising for the blue cross. If anyone would like to donate please pm me.
Anne with one of her favourite heavies named Harlequin
BabsR
Posted - 08 Jun 2009 : 5:42:00 PM Anne was a very special Lady......one of life`s eccentrics. She had a heart of Pure Gold and spent her life dedicated to saving horses from the meat markets....her particular love was Shires in later years but she would go out of her way to save any horse/pony or animal who was suffering.
Anne kept her horses on rented land adjacent to Sunray Stud. She would cycle twice daily, often three times Spring/Summer/Autumn/Winter whatever the weather, she never missed a day!! As she passed our gates, she would toot her bicycle horn. Her Horses knew it was her, and made their way down to greet her. No luxuries like a car for Anne....she preferred to spend her money on feeds for her horses and it was amazing how much `gear` she could pack into the front and back baskets on that bicycle. Everyone in the locality knew Anne. Riders were stopped outside her Field Gate, so she could give their horses carrots. She also called round here regularly, to give carrots to her favourite Sunray....our beloved Stallion Scelebrity, who would always greet her loudly, when she arrived.
The local show, just a walk away from Anne`s, field were all familiar with pint sized Anne and her huge Shires who always proved quite a spectacle and always did very well in the Turnout and Veteran classes Her efforts were well rewarded last year as she won the end of Season Veteran Championship with her favourite Shire, Harlequin.
Anne in the early 1970`s with one of her rescues from the meat man The little mare produced a foal not long after and Anne is seen, having invited the local nursery children to see the new Mum and Foal
Above Anne with her favourite Shire Harley having won the end of season R.C. Veteran Championship 2007...shortly before she was diagnosed with Cancer
Most of Anne's horses are quite elderly and the Blue Cross are doing their best to help find caring responsible homes.for the rest of their days
Posted - 08 Jun 2009 : 3:29:04 PM How sad....she sounded like a wonderful lady who had her life cut short too soon
RIP Ann....
Pasha
Posted - 08 Jun 2009 : 3:02:28 PM RIP Ann. I too hope all of her horses find lifetime loving homes x
LYNDILOU
Posted - 08 Jun 2009 : 2:49:54 PM Oh how sad, what an angel she was to the horses in her care, I hope all are found good homes, I have written my will and all My horses will be the responsibility of my daughter , even though she lives in the states she has promised and will undertake to see they are cared for. I pray that Ann's horses go on to make her proud .RIP dear Ann.
so big yet so gentle!!! i can see why Anne loved them so much! Simon has so much presence! i think he is a shire on the outside, but an arab on the inside 
