It is with great sadness that we learned that Dorothy (Dot) Beeson passed away peacefully at home with her family on May 1st 2020.
Dorothy Beeson born July 6th 1947 founded The Swan Sanctu-ary in her back garden in the early 1980’s. With the help of friends, family and volunteers, she built it into a national centre for rehabilitation of swans and cygnets as well as many other waterfowl and the occasional small creature.
She also dedicated herself to helping vulnerable children for many years through the youth justice system.
Her awards were many:
In 1991 Dot was awarded the BEM by the crown.
She received the MBE by Her Majesty the Queen at Windsor castle in 2015.
In 2001 she was awarded the Pride of Britain Award.
She also received the International Fund for Animal Welfare Award in 2015.
Her hard work and dedication allowed The Swan Sanctuary to flourish going on to receive The Royal Society for Prevention Cruelty to Animals highest award to someone outside of their or-ganisation The Lord Erskine Award in 2000.
Most recently, the Queens Award for Voluntary Service (2018) that was presented to Dot by HRH Princess Alexandra in 2019.
We will miss her but her legacy and work will now carry with her Daughter Melanie at the helm.
Stephen Knight, Trustee