40 Years Fundraising for PDSA

25 August 2023

Barbara and Brian Scrimshaw from Alnwick in Northumberland have been raising funds for PDSA for over 40 years! As dedicated supporters, the couple has been fundraising for PDSA ever since their Sheltie dog, Shep, needed our help all those years ago. Barbara and Brian have raised over £100,000 for PDSA – what an amazing achievement! We can’t thank them enough.

As part of the Leeds Fundraising Group, Barbara and Brian helped raise funds for the building of our Leeds PDSA Pet Hospital, The Frederick Jennings Centre, which opened in 1999. The team here are close to their hearts, as it was these vets and nurses that helped their beloved Shep.

When they relocated to the East Coast, Barbara and Brian established the Bridlington Fundraising Group. Here, the couple continued to raise funds for PDSA through regular raffles and tombolas, as well as making and selling homemade cakes and other crafts such as handmade peg bags, intricately pleated cushions, and knitted baby outfits.

In 2017, they relocated to Northumberland to be closer to their son, Paul, and his family. On top of their tombola and raffle stalls, Barbara and Brian began selling their handmade crafts through Paul’s homeware and gift shop in Alnwick, donating the proceeds to PDSA.

As a thank you for their wonderful support and dedication over the years, we nominated Barbara and Brian for a special place at Her Majesty the Queen’s Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, which they were delighted to attend on Tuesday 21 May 2019. It was an honour to have such inspirational fundraisers representing PDSA at this event.

Sadly, Brian passed away in February 2023 at the age of 89. His dedication to his fundraising activities is something PDSA is eternally grateful for. We’d like to say a huge thank you to Brian and Barbara for their incredible support over the years, they have made a huge contribution towards keeping people and pets together.

Barbara has expressed her desire to continue fundraising on her own, in memory of Brian, showing her true dedication to poorly pets in need. At 90 years of age, Barbara is PDSA’s longest-serving fundraising volunteer.