When Jan Bevington spotted a stranded seal pup cowering on a beach near her home in Hillswick, Shetland, 27 years ago, she could not have know how that animal would change her life.
Since taking in the youngster (she had to ring a seal sanctuary in Cornwall to find out how to care for it), Ms Bevington, 67, has devoted her life to providing shelter and support to marine animals in distress, in a part of the country where weather conditions can be punishing and surviving can be tough for the local wildlife.
Often the efforts of quiet enthusiasts are overlooked, especially when they hail from remote places. So it is wonderful to see Ms Bevington receiving the recognition she deserves for her work rescuing seals, otters, whales, dolphins and a host of other animals in Shetland, including seals and otters affected by the Braer oil spill. She will receive an award from the International Fund for Animal Welfare at an event tomorrow at the House of Lords, presented by wildlife broadcaster Bill Oddie.
The soft carpets and wood panelling of the Lords will be a far cry from bottle-feeding otters, but such work deserves to be acknowledged in the corridors of power.
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