Lifelong animal champion recveives special award. - Healthy Life Essex

Lifelong animal champion from Essex receives award in honour of late wife as he continues work in her memory  

(London – October 14, 2009) – A recently bereaved animal hero is to receive a special award in recognition of tireless work by him and his late wife from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (www.ifaw.org) at the House of Lords. 

IFAW decided to jointly honour Ernie and Paula Clark, of Dagenham, for more than 30 years devotion to rescuing sick and abandoned animals and caring for them at their sanctuary. Sadly, shortly after they received notification that they were to receive an award, Paula passed away aged 76 after a short battle with cancer. 

Mr Clark (83) has already vowed to carry on the Hopefield Animal Sanctuary in Brentwood in memory of his late wife. 

He will receive their Lifetime Dedication Award at IFAW’s prestigious Animal Action Awards ceremony, hosted by Baroness Gale, at the House of Lords on October 21.

 Robbie Marsland, UK Director of IFAW, said: “We were extremely saddened to hear that Paula Clark had passed away. Both Mr and Mrs Clark were well known locally for their lifetime’s dedication to animal welfare and we wanted to acknowledge that outstanding work with this award. I am very pleased that Mr Clark will be receiving the award on behalf of him and his late wife, and we wish him all the best in his continued work caring for the animals at Hopefield.”

 Mr and Mrs Clark, who were married for 51 years, ran their animal sanctuary in various locations before opening Hopefield Animal Sanctuary, where they have rescued and cared for thousands of animals.

 Mr Clark said: “Both Paula and I were delighted and very moved when we heard we were to receive an award from IFAW. Paula was a great woman and a true animal lover. She would have loved to have been able to attend the awards at the House of Lords. It will be an honour to receive the award in her memory and I plan to keep looking after the animals as she would have wanted.”

 Hopefield is currently home to around 200 horses, ponies, goats, pigs and other animals and relies on public donations.