TRIBUTES have been paid to a former firefighter who ran a Hampshire animal sanctuary for half a century.
Retired painter and decorator Barry Bevis, who kept a wide variety of animals in a field off Frost Lane, Hythe, has died aged 78 after a short illness.
Barry spent 26 years as a retained (part-time) firefighter at Hythe fire station and in 1992 successfully fought plans to close it.
In a statement his family described him as a successful smallholder, a community evangelist and a local hero. A separate statement on the Barry's Frost Lane Farm Facebook page praised his "passion for life and nature".
Earlier this year the father of three won one of the annual awards presented by Hythe and Dibden Parish Council.
The council said: "Barry's Farm has been a beloved part of the community for 50 years and has been enjoyed by generations of children.
"The field is home to a menagerie of chickens, ducks, pigs, goats, alpacas and donkeys. It was time to say 'thank you' for all the pleasure it has given."
Many people have taken to social media to express their sadness at Barry's death.
One person posted: "He was a truly wonderful guy who brought so much joy to local families for many decades. Lots of love to the family, who I'm sure will be very proud of a genuinely wonderful person."
In 2011 his supporters won a battle to prevent homes from being built on his council-owned land, known locally as Barry's Field.
It was deleted from a list of potential development sites after more than 2,400 people signed a protest petition and a further 1,000 joined an online campaign.
Speaking at the time Paul Vickers, who was the district council's cabinet member for planning, said: "It’s low-lying land that was felt to be a bit of a flood risk. But we also accepted that it had a certain amenity value.”
The family statement said Hythe fire station would have closed had it not been for Barry's "determination and commitment to fight for its survival".
It also said his smallholding was repeatedly in danger of being targeted by developers, adding; "He fought to keep it going for the community and the benefit it provided."
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