Animal rights champ was 'one in a million'
FRIENDS of an animal rights campaigner who died after an accident at work have paid tribute to him.
Ray Jessop, of St George's Road, west Hull, has been described by those who knew him as an "immense personality with a passionate commitment to honesty and fairness."
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Ray Jessop
The 53-year-old is believed to have fallen from a ladder while decorating a house in Cranswick Grove, East Hull, on Sunday afternoon.
Mr Jessop, affectionately described as "the oldest hippie in town" by fellow activists, was a fervent animal welfare campaigner.
Liz Brown, from Scunthorpe, was Ray's best friend of over 10 years and a fellow campaigner. She said: "He was absolutely one in a million.
"He was very kind and gentle, honest and genuine. You couldn't wish to meet a nicer person.
"He was compassionate and respectful, I don't know anybody else like him, he was so unique."
Another long-term friend, Steve Broom of Ings Road Estate, east Hull, met Ray at a protest against the live export of veal in 1996.
He said: "He was very much loved by everybody who met him and people are devastated by what has happened."
Ray was raised in Hull as one of five children and grew up to be a man of many interests who lived according to his principles.
His friend of 15 years Ian Holmes said: "To me he was a campaigner, a vegan who championed animal rights, but to others he was a trades unionist, an enthusiastic music lover, a family member, a scooter enthusiast, teepee owner and neo-pagan."
His family have been informed of his death and are planning a 'green' funeral in keeping with his beliefs.
Mr Jessop stated in his will he did not wish to be remembered with sadness.
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by anon, Hull
Sunday, December 13 2009, 12:42AM
“Wow... so sad to read this. Ray used to come into the shop I worked at and buy vegan cheezly and sos rolls. he came in often and always seemed like a nice guy. We closed down a few months ago so I hadn't seen him since but it shocked me to see this :( i like that the article talks about him being an animal rights campaigner as it's probably likely that is one of the things he wants to be remembered as most. best wishes to his family and friends.”
by Steve, Scunthorpe
Saturday, December 12 2009, 7:43PM
“In care of the Goddess,
You go home this day,
To your home of winter,
To your home of autumn,
Of spring and of summer.
You go home this day to your lasting home,
To your rest of great deserving,
To your sound sleeping,
To a new dawn,
And a new day.
Sleep now and so fade sorrow,
Sleep, [deceased¿s name], in the heart of truth.
Be the sleep of seven lights upon you,
Be the sleep of seven joys upon you,
Be the sleep of seven slumbers upon you.
Sleep in the quiet of quietness,
Sleep in the way of guidance,
Sleep in the heart of love,
Sleep,Ray, everlasting in our hearts.
To wake,
In a new light,
In a new love,
In a new life.”
by Cathy Heckford-Dickinson, Hull
Friday, December 11 2009, 9:41PM
“I feel so proud and privileged to have known you.May your wonderful spirit live on and be a guiding light and inspiration for the world to follow. You were one of the kindest and gentlest people I ever knew, with such a keen sense of justice. Whilst you had your admirable principles, you were never judgmental of other people. You were and are way, way ahead of your time. There are too few of us within the animal rights movement, but I promise you here and now that I for one will play my part in winning this fight for both man and animalkind. May the love and comapssion that you showed towards everyone, both our human and non human brethren be returned to you infinite fold and forever.
With all my love Cathy.”
by Mother Malarky, Dumfries and Galloway
Friday, December 11 2009, 12:43PM
“My dear Ray - thank you for all the chilli chocolate you brought to Camp for me. Thank you for being the first thing I'd see when I poked my head out of the tent in the morning - always the one to have got the fire going, put the kettle on ready for us all when we arose, cleared away the rubbish from the night's revelries, sorted out the recycling, and all with no fuss or bother. You arrived and departed each time in the same way, never drawing attention to yourself. You were a true Friend of LimeTree Farm, and the Land will sing for you. May the blessings of the Goddess go with you to the Summerlands, and may She be with your family and friends as they come to terms with the loss of such a special man.”
by Liz, Darlington
Friday, December 11 2009, 12:08PM
“I didn't know Ray half as well as I would have liked to but I will miss his gentle presence at Lime Tree Farm and Oakleaf camps. I was always amazed at how he could get all his camping gear for a long weekend on the back of that scooter! Rest in Peace Ray, your spirit will always be there at Lime Tree Farm and you will not be forgotten by those of us who love that place as much as you did.”