How Hilary Harry & Friends Began
Two famous geese, one cold winter morning, and the beginning of something very special.
Every story has a beginning, but not every wildlife rescue begins with two famous geese!
Long before Hilary Harry & Friends became the wildlife rescue it is today, there were two very well-known residents of Uppermill: Hilary and Harry.
Everybody knew these geese. They were local characters, familiar faces and very much part of village life.
Then, one bitterly cold winter morning, everything changed.
A neighbouring property got in touch with us.
"Harry's really, really poorly. Please, will you come down and have a look at him?"
Of course, we went.
When we arrived, the situation was desperate. Harry was in the water and was literally drowning. He was in serious trouble, and there wasn't a moment to waste.
So, without thinking twice, I jumped into the water, rescued Harry and got him out.
We took him home, where we could give him the care and attention he desperately needed.
Little did we know that this one rescue was about to cause quite a stir!
Word spread quickly, and social media went absolutely mad. Apparently, two women had stolen Harry!
There was just one little detail everybody had got wrong.
It wasn't two women. It was me and my partner!
And just to clear things up, my partner has a beard!
Harry was now safe and receiving care, not stolen! but the story didn't end there.
Before long, the next request came.
"Well, now you've got Harry, can you take Hilary as well?"
And so, back we went to rescue Hilary.
And just like that, the two famous Uppermill geese were together in our care.
That was the beginning of Hilary Harry.
But as time went on, other animals started arriving too. One rescue became another, and then another. It wasn't just about Hilary and Harry anymore.
There were so many other little lives needing help, so many injured, poorly and orphaned animals who needed somebody to care.
And that's when we thought, well, we might as well make it Hilary Harry & Friends!
And the rest, as they say, is history.
What began with two much-loved local geese and one desperate phone call grew into a wildlife rescue dedicated to helping animals in need.
Who would have thought that one freezing winter morning, a goose in trouble, a rescue involving a very unexpected bearded rescuer and a second trip to collect his companion would lead to all of this?
Sometimes the biggest things really do begin with the smallest acts of kindness.
And that's how Hilary Harry & Friends began.
Two geese. One rescue. A very special beginning. And thousands of little lives that would follow.