RSPCA officer Sonia Hulme dies after 20 years in animal rescue

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 28 Oct, 14:38 · Archive

Sonia Hulme, a frontline RSPCA animal rescue officer who spent 12 years serving Cheshire and Merseyside, has died aged 50 after a short illness.

Sonia Hulme, 50, died on 15 October after a short illness, ending a 20-year career as a frontline animal rescue officer with the RSPCA. She spent 12 years of that service covering parts of Cheshire and Merseyside. Hulme, from Stockport, leaves behind five children and two grandchildren.

Les Stewart, manager at Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre near Nantwich, described her as a 'larger-than-life character with an extraordinary passion for wildlife'. He said the Stapeley team could always count on Hulme, who often gave up her own time to help animals in need. 'Her dedication to animal welfare was truly admirable,' Stewart said, adding that her loss would be deeply felt by her family, friends, the RSPCA, the centre's team and 'the countless animals whose lives she touched'.

Hulme often cared for injured wildlife in her garage before transporting them to Stapeley Grange. The animals she helped included ducklings, fox cubs, swans, hedgehogs and mice. In interviews about her work, she described the variety of care required, from hand-rearing baby birds with a small syringe to tube feeding and digging the garden to find worms for older birds.

In her memory, all 22 of the RSPCA's self-funded branches in the North West will establish a wildlife fund bearing her name.

How it is being reported

• Tributes to RSPCA officer who dedicated more than 12 years to Cheshire wildlifeRSPCA rescuer Sonia Hulme, who spent 12 years serving Merseyside and Cheshire, has died aged 50.Northwich Guardian · 28 Oct, 14:20
• Tributes to RSPCA officer who dedicated more than 12 years to Cheshire wildlifeRSPCA rescuer Sonia Hulme, who spent 12 years serving Merseyside and Cheshire, has died aged 50.Warrington Guardian · 28 Oct, 14:20

In this story: Sonia Hulme · RSPCA · Cheshire · Merseyside · Stockport · Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre · Les Stewart · Nantwich

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