RIP Andrea the Rainbow Warrior

25th April 2022

From Paul: I first met Andrea in the mid 90’s when she was involved in animal rights. Not long after that Andrea started going sabbing with her local groups Bolton, Manchester and Liverpool Hunt Sabs.

During this period in the North West sabs were hitting the hunts in Cheshire hard which resulted in the police being over the top in their policing and hunts hiring their own private army of thugs (aka stewards).

Every Saturday during the hunting season sabs from Manchester, Liverpool, Bolton, Preston and Stoke we would venture into Cheshire and Andrea was always there either driving the van or working the CB radio (old skool for mobile phone).

Andrea was never afraid to give the hunt shit and many a time I can remember arriving at the meet and Andrea would wind the window down and tell them what was what.

During the days sabbing after being chased by either hunt supporters or the police to hear Andrea’s voice over the CB to say that she will be there in a minute was great and she was always there.

Animal rights was 24/7 for Andrea and if she was not out sabbing she would either be at a circus demo, outside a fur shop, picketing a slaughterhouse or doing a home demo of which there were many or liberating animals from hell holes.

Andrea was carried to the crematory in a rainbow coloured wicker coffin draped by a hunt sabs flag.

From Georgie: During the mid 1990’s whilst in London at university and holding down two part time jobs, Andrea lived in the notorious animal rights house in Greyhound Lane, Streatham and was a regular member of Brixton Hunt Saboteurs (where she acquired the nickname ‘Bronty’ because of her hairstyle, big boots and fierce attitude out in the field).

Andrea was actively involved in animal rights, from attending demonstrations, daytime inspections of animal abuse establishments and rescuing animals from hellholes in night time liberations.

There are many amusing memories of her cheeky rascal capers including during one excursion to rescue chickens from a farm, Andrea lost her front door key, but instead of panicking, and as always with a positive outlook she said (of the police) beaming a big grin “oh well, at least they can fooking well let themselves in next time instead of kicking down the fooking door”.

Another time, in a supermarket on Streatham High Road, Andrea heckled a known vivisector whilst he was going through the checkout, letting everyone in the packed shop know how he earned his blood money, he stupidly retaliated, so was also confronted as he walked along the street.

Because of her genuine sparkly personality, Andrea had many activist friends across the UK, the Greyhound Lane house became a central hub during that busy era for animal rights, and Special Branch viewed Andrea as a strategic link between northern and southern activists; this made her a ‘high value’ target for spy cop Andy Coles aka Andy ‘Van’ Davey who routinely pestered her with his sickening ‘romantic’ advances.

Although Andrea was suspicious of ‘Van’ and thought he was a weird creep, she still welcomed him as a friend, so he exploited her kind heartedness.

Andrea faced terminal breast cancer with immense bravery, always striving to live with it rather than allowing it to hold her back; in between bouts of extreme sickness and aggressive treatment, she volunteered for numerous feral cat neutering projects abroad where she worked long hours as a trapper and clinic assistant.

Andrea wanted to go overseas “somewhere dodgy” to help street dogs facing hostility and cruelty, but sadly didn’t have enough time left to achieve this.

Andrea excelled in her sensitive role working for the social care sector, where her caring nature extended to advocating for vulnerable children; meanwhile still helping animals in her spare time as a volunteer for Warrington Animal Welfare.

In her final months, despite being gravely unwell, Andrea attended as many demos as she could to support Camp Beagle and Free The MBR Beagles, her main concern was not having any time left to help animals. In a heart breaking final gesture, Andrea wore a Camp Beagle t-shirt at her funeral.

Andrea’s passing is a terrible loss for everyone who knew her, the animal rights movement and animal rescue fraternity; but most of all a tragedy for animals in need whose paths she’ll now never cross.

From Daniel: I first met Andrea after I rang a cat charity worried about a colony of feral cats I had come across and been feeding for some time and arranged for me to meet independent volunteer Andrea.

I agreed to help her to trap, neuter, release and relocate them, spending lots of nights sitting in her car waiting for the cats to go into traps. We got on really well and after a few nights explained had been given early retirement due to being terminal with cancer.

I was shocked asking “So why are you doing this then? I’d be relaxing at home or going away enjoying life spoiling myself not sat in the dark in a car trying catch cats”

She explained how she was dedicated to animal welfare since retired and spent all day every day running around helping animals. I was blown away by her dedication and she persuaded me to go along one weekend delivering dog & cat food to deprived areas and helping her.

Once she trusted me she told me her past with story’s of Hunt sabbing and liberating lab animals and abused pets, I was blown away.

Over time she explained the truth of animal persecution to me turning me vegan at first then joining Manchester Hunt Sabs, with her vouching for me to a old friend from the original North West Hunt Saboteurs I was out the next day sabbing a fox hunt and never looked back becoming involved in different aspects of activism.

Andrea was very proud of me getting so involved and jokingly called me her prodigy which I secretly liked as I looked up-to her so much.

In April 2021 I was sett checking in Manchester one evening and came across badger baiters on an isolated sett I watched over which I had seen cubs emerge from just days before and confronted them ending up with me being beaten badly by them all and left for dead.

When Andrea heard and came round to see me recovering she was crying saying “oh no this is all my fault I got you into it all….” I said no if I’d never met you those badgers would all be dead, it was you who put me there to stop them!

As the cancer spread and she became more and more ill but still wouldn’t stop helping with animal welfare into she could do no more becoming bed ridden and sadly passed on New Year’s Eve 2021.

Andrea was a true animal hero working quietly in the background wanting no recognition or self glory saying “ Actions speak louder than words” On low days when it’s hard to keep going against the never ending fight against animal abuse I just think of her and pick myself up and keep going like she did.

Andrea was my best friend and showed me my true calling in life. I hope I can do even a fraction of what she did for the animals and show a fraction of the integrity and drive she did then I’ll be happy.