The Freshfields Story
A crazy, spontaneous decision to save two distressed donkeys from further abuse changed the lives of John and Annie Stirling and, in turn, has changed the lives of the hundreds of donkeys and children who have shared the experience of Freshfields. Their story is beautifully told in John’s book “Marked for Life”; this is a précis of that story.
John Stirling was, by profession, an actor, writer and producer working mainly in theatre and television. Annie started her theatre career as a dancer and later became one of the country’s top costume designers and dressmakers. It was while carrying out research for a play which John had been asked to write for Patricia Hayes that John and Annie found themselves at Chelford Livestock Market to watch some donkeys being auctioned. What they saw there shocked them and, as they looked at two neglected, abused and desperately sad donkeys being paraded around the auction ring, they decided to buy them and take them home.
Unfortunately, at this time, home was a Victorian flat in Buxton, in the Derbyshire Peak District and the only place they had in which to house their new charges was a garage. But, for the time being, it would be a refuge where the donkeys could receive the care and love they so badly needed. The adoption of Baz and Bishop, set John and Annie on an adventure so unusual, exciting, frightening, rewarding and demanding that they were never to look back or be the same people again.
While the donkeys settled into life in a suburban garage and enjoyed walks in the Derbyshire countryside, John and Annie set about finding more suitable accommodation. At the same time, John produced two big concerts at the Buxton Opera House to generate enough income to support their new “family”.
Their first new home was in the stable block of the Pictor Hall estate which they had agreed to renovate in exchange for being allowed to occupy it. They moved in and started work but, being very
short of funds, John approached the makers of Anneka Rice’s Challenge programme who readily agreed to carry out the renovation for them. This was a dream come true; meanwhile, word of their venture was spreading and, by Christmas, Baz and Bishop were joined by Brandy, Benji, Fern, Lucy, Thaddeus, Clara, Susie and Jeremy. The “Challenge” was a great success with the team not only restoring the stables but also the paths and the cow barn, at the request of the owner. The elation was, however, short-lived. With the work on her property finished, the owner of Pictor Hall issued John and Annie with an eviction notice allowing them just two weeks to clear the premises. They were devastated, as were all those who had worked so hard to complete the project. John and Annie couldn’t see how they would be able to continue but, by now, thirty-two donkeys were entrusted to their care and they just couldn’t give up.
John managed to find temporary accommodation for the herd in the village of Wormhill and, as the local people and passing visitors took the donkeys to their hearts, John was offered the permanent use of a barn and outbuildings on the outskirts of the village - provided he agreed to rebuild the dilapidated barn and pay a hefty rent. With no other options available, Wormhill became their new home.
The publicity generated by the Challenge programme ensured a constant flow of visitors and well-wishers to Wormhill, including Sunshine Coaches carrying special needs children. It was the delight on the faces of these children, together with the gentle and sensitive way the donkeys responded to them, that created the idea of a therapy centre where both children and donkeys could benefit; an idea which was to make this donkey sanctuary a very special place.
John and Annie applied to register the project as a charity - this would be essential if enough funds were to be raised to keep the project going. In 1991, the project was registered as Charity No. 1002448 - The Michael Elliott Trust - and was formally opened at Wormhill by the actor, Tony Britton.
Michael Elliott, to whom the Trust is dedicated, was a much loved and respected director and producer who gave both John and Annie their early breaks in TV and theatre. A tribute to Michael can be seen on the Trust page. This page also contains a list of the Trust Patrons which, not surprisingly, includes some of the most cherished and respected names in the world of entertainment - including Sir John Mills, Sir Alec Guinness and Dame Judi Dench.
The actress, Jane Lapotaire, agreed to serve a two-year term as President and worked tirelessly to help launch and raise the profile of the new charity. At the end of her term, she handed over to June Brown who also agreed to a two-year term but, such is her dedication and enthusiasm for the project, that she still holds that office some 11 years later.
During the early years of the Trust, the herd of donkeys continued to grow in number. They came from a number of sources; some had been abandoned, some were donated because of bereavement or because the owners could no longer care for them and, tragically, some had to be rescued from the cruellest of abuse and neglect.
Emily was found abandoned, chained to a parking meter in Preston Market Square. She was in good condition, if a little over-weight, and had obviously been well cared for - but now, she was apparently unwanted. She was taken back to Wormhill where she was immediately adopted by Eileen Derbyshire, who plays Emily Bishop in Coronation Street - hence the name Emily. Shortly afterwards, the vet diagnosed her weight problem as pregnancy and, in December 1994, the Trust had its first foal which John and Annie named Elliott in honour of
Michael. Today, Elliott and his mum still share a stall in the barn and, if you visit Freshfields, you will recognise Elliott as the one who follows you around the paddock in the hope that you will stroke him a little more... Regrettably, other stories are not so happy and the story of Annie’s Rescue, which is taken from John’s book and reproduced on this site, is a deeply personal and moving account of one rescue which, alone, would have made the whole project worthwhile.
Before long, the increasing size and popularity of the project began to adversely affect Wormhill which had been transformed from a quiet rural village to a rather noisy (donkeys braying can be heard several counties away) tourist attraction with country roads blocked by visitors’ cars. Under pressure from the villagers, the land-owner increased the rent by 85%, probably knowing that the Trust could not afford it and, when that increase was challenged, he served an eviction notice. Once again, John, Annie and their beloved donkeys were homeless.
It happened that a farm, in an ideal location just three miles from Wormhill was up for sale and had been for some time due to the amount of work needed to renovate the buildings (is this becoming a familiar story?). Of course, the Trust couldn’t afford to buy it - having just two hundred pounds in the bank - but the owners agreed to rent it to the Trust for six months to allow the necessary capital to be raised.
Leaving Wormhill in style, the donkeys which were fit enough, walked the three miles to Lodesbarn Farm each led by one of its sponsors while the more elderly (donkeys, that is...) were ferried by horse-box. Looking around at another new home with no roof on the house or barn, no floors, no stables, a pot-holed drive, no fences and only broken down walls surrounding the fields, it must have been hard to contemplate the task that lay ahead of them. Moreover, after so many set-backs and disappointments, it was hard to believe that this could really become their permanent home.
The first indication that their luck was changing came in the form of a letter from the executors of Mrs Alice Spring. She had sponsored one of the donkeys and, when she died at the age of ninety-six, she left a legacy to the Trust. The flat in Buxton had been repossessed leaving John and Annie with nowhere to live but this legacy meant that the farmhouse roof could be repaired and they would be able to live on site with the donkeys.
This marked the turning point in their struggle to establish a safe refuge for their herd. This was reinforced a few months later when a lottery grant allowed the Trust to buy the farm outright - the future was, at last, secure.
Renamed Freshfields Donkey Village, the farm has been transformed - by a huge amount of work, fund-raising and sponsorship - into a very special place where rescued donkeys receive the care they so desperately need and visitors, especially children, can walk freely among them and enjoy the sheer pleasure of their company.
What John and Annie have achieved here is quite remarkable. They have not done it alone but they are the ones who sacrificed a comfortable lifestyle, had the courage and vision to start the project and the strength and determination to see it through when many would have given up. Had they known what they would be up against, they probably wouldn’t have started it at all - but, having lived through it, do they have any regrets? Why don’t you come and ask them?
A visit to Freshfields is a delightful and humbling experience but, be warned; it is impossible to visit here and not want to become involved - by making a donation, adopting a donkey, bringing friends or just dropping in to show that you care. It is that kind of place...