Animal lover’s legacy helps pets in need

Sylvia sitting on a green armchair wearing a green cardigan, black trousers and glasses with her fawn-coloured dog with black muzzle sitting on her lap. Sylvia looks at her dog, while the dog gazes out of the window
Sylvia with her beloved dog, Tilly

A lifelong animal lover’s legacy of caring for pets lives on, thanks to a generous gift left in her will.

Sylvia Valerie Muriel Tipton, from Longden near Shrewsbury, left Blue Cross a share of her estate worth more than £70,000 when she passed away aged 85 in November 2022.

These vital funds are now helping to build bright futures for pets in need, a cause so close to her heart throughout her life.

Sylvia had a particular affinity for dogs, which developed during her childhood when she returned after a short time spent in Egypt where her father, Vern, was posted as a Staff Sergeant in the RAF.

From then on, the family – also comprising mum Peggy – welcomed dogs into their home and hearts.

During a scholarship at The Royal Academy of Music in London, Sylvia missed her family and dogs dearly – an inevitable pull that often drew her home.

But, after graduating with honours, Sylvia later made the plucky decision to move to Australia to take up a teaching position in a girls’ school, leaving behind all she knew.

It was a life in which she thrived, with her spare time filled with activities such as horse riding and playing golf.

Black and white photo of Sylvia during her days in Australia, with a horse. She holds the headcollar and looks at the horse's face. Trees are in the background.
Sylvia thrived during her days in Australia, developing a passion for horses

She returned home to Shrewsbury once again following the sudden death of her father. Her grandmother’s diagnosis of breast cancer soon after cemented her decision to relocate back to the UK and remain here.

A further succession of dogs filled Sylvia’s life with love and laughter from then on, with her beloved Tilly – described by her cousin Jeffrey as the “love of her life” – by her side throughout her final years.

Despite being injured while out with Tilly and being left unable to walk, Jeffrey says her devoted dog “remained her purpose for life and her companion” until her final day.

Sylvia was able to remain with Tilly, thanks to charities and kind volunteers who ensured her dog had all the exercise she needed.

She was now experiencing first-hand the generous help offered by charitable causes, of which she supported many during her lifetime – including those caring for animals.

Black and white photo of Sylvia (right) and her mum (far left) with two of their dogs between them. They are in a garden with a brick building in the background.
Sylvia with her mother and two childhood dogs

Paying tribute to Sylvia, Jeffrey says: “At the time of her passing, she supported 14 different charities every month, and that was apart from her responses to special appeals for disasters and such. Sylvia’s attitude was: ‘If they need it and I can give it, then so be it’.

“However, her main love in life and her mission was to the cause of animals, whether it be her own or other’s dogs, badly treated working animals around the world, or the birds outside her window, on whom she spent countless amounts feeding.

“Sylvia just loved all animals and would do literally anything for them and that had been her attitude throughout her life.”

And now Blue Cross is continuing to help pets and the people who love them so dearly in Sylvia's memory.

Our charity simply couldn’t do all it does without the generosity shown by kind supporters like her, and we are deeply grateful that Sylvia chose to recognise her love of animals and our work in this way following her death.

— Page published 15/11/2024