e-Tour Staff Profiles Benefactors Credits

Funding PDSA PetAid hospitals, saving lives PDSA relies entirely on public support to fund its free PetAid services. The charity is immensely grateful for all the donations it receives as every pound makes a real difference to the life of a sick or injured animal. Some benefactors go a step further and make a substantial contribution to the building and equipping of an individual PDSA PetAid hospital. PDSA remembers them and their families with deep gratitude and in these special circumstances is happy to name the hospital as a lasting tribute to their love of animals. Basildon PDSA PetAid hospital, The Coco Markus Centre Erich and Margarete 'Coco' Markus both grew up in Germany and came to England during the rise of the Nazi government. Erich went on to build a very successful company called Office and Machines. When he died half of his estate passed to Coco and half into a trust fund. On Coco's death her estate was added to the original Trust, which aids a variety of projects and in 2003 funded the building of the PDSA PetAid hospital in Basildon. This PetAid hospital now provides more than 26,000 free treatments every year and undertakes more than 34 operations every week. Bradford PDSA PetAid hospital, The Jeanne Marchig Centre Bradford PDSA PetAid hospital, The Jeanne Marchig Centre, opened in May 2004. The PetAid hospital benefited from a substantial donation from The Marchig Animal Welfare Trust, and is named in honour of the Trust's founder, Madame Jeanne Marchig. Madame Marchig of Geneva established The Marchig Animal Welfare Trust in 1989 because of her deep concern for nature and for animals, and in memory of her late husband, the Italian painter, Giannino Jean Marchig. The objectives of the Trust, an international organisation, are to protect animals and to promote and encourage practical work in preventing animal cruelty and the relief of animal suffering. Leeds PDSA PetAid hospital, The Frederick Jennings Centre Frederick Jennings was known as a man with a great affinity for animals. Originally from Dorking, he took a keen interest in the work of PDSA and after his death, his widow, Patricia, asked PDSA to invest the value of their estate as a memorial to her late husband. The idea of funding a PDSA PetAid hospital was developed and the Leeds PDSA PetAid hospital, The Frederick Jennings Centre, which opened in 1999 and now provides some 28,000 free treatments every year, is the happy result. New Cross PDSA PetAid hospital, The Philippa and George Adams Centre As a young girl Philippa took her sick tortoise to PDSA and so began her lifelong relationship with the charity. Later, married to George, she and her husband became renowned antique dealers and divided their time between France and London. They both supported PDSA until their deaths and the New Cross PDSA PetAid hospital built in 1992 was named The Philippa and George Adams Centre in memory of their generosity to PDSA and the real difference this made to so many sick and injured animals. The PetAid hospital is close to their former home and now provides more than 37,000 free treatments every year. Newcastle PDSA PetAid hospital, The Ann Coleman Centre It was a simple water pump made in Newcastle and sold across the Indian sub-continent that helped sick and injured pets in the north east. Profits from the pump, invented by Ann Coleman's husband, led to the creation of the Ann Coleman Trust, which went on to provide vital funding for the Newcastle PDSA PetAid hospital, The Ann Coleman Centre. Built in 1999 in memory of Ann's love of animals and her wish to improve local animal welfare, The Ann Coleman Centre has a catchment area that covers all of north Tyneside and provides some 40,000 free treatments every year. Romford PDSA PetAid hospital, The Julie and Robert Breckman Centre When Julie Breckman developed a terminal illness she and her husband, Robert, decided to fund the new PDSA PetAid hospital in Romford as a "living will", the first of its kind for PDSA. The Julie and Robert Breckman Centre is decorated with as well as memorabilia from Julie's former career, as actress Julie Alexander, specially-commissioned art work. The PetAid hospital was built in 1999 and now provides more than 37,500 free treatments every year. Julie and Robert Breckman also kindly created The Breckman Student Nurse Bursary, which has seen three student nurses trained by PDSA and very generously went on to sponsor the PDSA mobile PetCheck vehicle, which tours Britain promoting responsible pet care and providing pet health checks from March to November every year. Thamesmead PDSA PetAid hospital, The Freda Powell Centre Freda and Jim Powell both grew up in Thamesmead near Eynsham Drive, where the PDSA PetAid hospital, opened in April 2001, stands today. Jim founded what became a highly successful construction company and when Freda died in 1998, Jim decided to fund PDSA's proposed new PetAid hospital at Thamesmead as a memorial to his wife. The Freda Powell Centre is built in memory of Freda's love of animals, particularly cats, and now provides more than 24,500 free treatments every year.