Gay Christie

sad news - the loss of an animal hero

On Thursday I got a terribly sad call from Andy Christie, telling me that his wife, Gay, had died after a short illness.

Gay and Andy founded Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue back in 1986, but had started looking after the waifs and strays of the animal world in 1970 when she brought an injured fox cub home. Gay was an animal champion. Her love for nature was immense, only exceeded by her care for the individual in front of her.

I first met them during the Uist saga - when I had become involved in the campaign against the killing of hedgehogs in the name of conservation on the Outer Hebridean islands (there is a detailed write up of this story in my latest book, Cull of the Wild). 

Gay feeding baby hedgehog at Hessilhead.

I was impressed, and to be honest, slightly intimidated by the two of them! They were so deep into their world, filled with knowledge and compassion, in a way that made me feel very much like a tourist. But they were also utterly welcoming.

Their role, other than the offering of wisdom, was to be home for all of the hedgehogs that we managed to rescue from the islands - checking them over to make sure they were fit for release. 

It was from them that I collected 20 rescued Uist hedgehogs to radio track to establish whether they suffered slow and lingering deaths (as claimed by those justifying the killing) or as ‘normal’ hogs … fortunately it was the latter and we got the cull stopped.

While researching my first book, A Prickly Affair, I revisited Gay and Andy and had a lovely evening drinking fine whisky and chatting - and was really touched by their kindness - to humans as well as animals! 

Gay feeding a baby hedgehog at Hessilhead.

I do not know how Hessilhead will continue without the gentle energy of Gay - they will need help for sure, so please, consider offering what you can via this link. I can vouch for the good use anything you can share. 

Thank you Gay - for showing us the real importance of a kind heart - and much love to Andy - such a hard time for you and all the amazing people at Hessilhead.