Colchester Cat Rescue founder Sheila dies (From Chelmsford Weekly News)

Colchester Cat Rescue founder Sheila dies

4:00pm Wednesday 16th February 2011 in News

Sheila Parsonson

THE woman who founded Colchester Cat Rescue more than 30 years ago has died, aged 84.

Sheila Parsonson passed away peacefully in Welshwood Manor nursing home, Colchester.

She started to rescue cats and look after them in her own home while living and working in London.

After taking early retirement, she moved to Great Tey in the early Seventies, where she began to rescue and rehome cats.

In 1978, she officially formed the Colchester and District Cat Rescue & Homing Society with the Charities Commission.

By the Nineties the charity had outgrown her Great Tey home, so a fundraising campaign by fellow trustee George Charles helped her to buy a derelict house in Bromley Road, Colchester.

The new sanctuary provided a home for hundreds of pets in the past 15 years, including many that could not be rehomed and lived out their lives there.

Sheila’s fellow trustees described her as a committed woman who would not let cats be put to sleep unless the vet said their quality of life was being affected.

In November 2002, she was recognised for her work by being appointed the MBE for services to animal welfare by the Queen.

At the time, she said: “You have to tick a box saying if you accept it or not.

“I thought it would be churlish not to.”

By 2004, Sheila’s health had worsened to the point where she could not take an active role in the charity.

The remaining trustees then took over the running of the rescue and kept it operating as an independent charity, as was Sheila’s wish.

Both the Bromley Road sanctuary and a charity shop in Eld Lane continue to run in her memory.

The funeral will take place at Colchester Crematorium on March 7. Donations can be made to Colchester Cat Rescue, Lyndhurst, Bromley Road, Colchester, CO7 7SF.

Visit colchestercatrescue.org.uk for more information.