Animal sanctuary founder invited to Buckingham Palace

A woman who has been running an animal sanctuary in a seaside town since 1979 is to attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace.

Barbara Keel, 91, started the Barby Keel Animal Sanctuary in Bexhill, East Sussex, with just three animals.

The sanctuary is now home to more than 600 cats, dogs, chickens, pigs and goats, supported by a team of volunteers - and she has no plans to retire.

She said the invitation to the event in May came as a surprise. "It was a bit of a shock because I wasn't expecting it," she said. "Everyone was excited and they think it's an honour."

Keel said she would be attending on behalf of her team, her supporters and the animals, but added: "That's not what I'm here for. I'm here doing a job that I love doing and wouldn't have it any different."

She described how she still worked every day, getting up at 07:00 to care for the animals in the morning before doing paperwork in the afternoon.

Keel said she loved seeing the animals each day, the volunteers and the cats running up to greet them - particularly the traumatised animals, which receive extra care.

The sanctuary began with a four-acre field and a caravan, she said, adding: "We started building sheds, and goodness knows what, and now we've got over 600 animals."

Her team posted on Facebook: "At long last, Barby has been given recognition for her lifelong work and all of us at the sanctuary, shop, family, friends and supporters are all so pleased for her."

Keel said 2026 was already the "worst year ever" for animals needing to be rehomed and appealed for donations.

"We're absolutely full up, but we make room," she said. "We're doing a good lot of homing at the moment, which is nice, but the trouble is you home two, and you get four in."

A friend has chosen her outfit for the royal event, she said, settling on a trouser suit and new shoes.

"I'm going to feel a bit uncomfortable," she said, "but I'll do it for the animals.

"I'll do anything for my animals, and also as a thank you to my motley crew, as I call them. They're all excited, so I'm doing it for them as well."

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