In memory of Graham

20th October 1973 - 3rd January 2026

Graham Gillions died on 3 January 2026, soon after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He was laid to rest in a small, private burial service on 12 January. Later that day people who knew and loved Graham from many different chapters of his life filled the Council Chamber in Frome Town Hall to share memories, music, stories, and reflections.

Graham was a kind, compassionate, principled person who touched many lives. His professional life was rooted in principles of climate justice, treating all people with respect and fairness and standing against oppression. But what mattered as much to him was what he did outside of his paid work. He gave his time endlessly to animal rescue, community causes, and fostering puppy farm survivors for the charity Friends of Animals Wales. 

Graham was the co-founder of Keyford Hedgehog Rescue. He was the driving force behind ensuring the rescue met all current guidelines and legislation around the rescuing of wild animals, giving the rescue a more professional structure and approach. He was actively involved in fundraising and understood that caring for hedgehogs meant doing things properly – not just with heart, but with knowledge, integrity, and professionalism. He didn't seek recognition, he simply saw what needed doing and did it.

He was a man of strong convictions but never a preacher. He was a vegan long before it was fashionable and environmentally conscious in every choice he made. He followed a simple principle: do no harm, be kind and tread lightly.

And he was great fun. He loved humour and not taking himself too seriously, whether blogging, dressing up for Eurovision parties or just making people laugh with his warm and clever wit which was never at anyone's expense.

Graham found the love of his life in Jennie, and the place he wanted to live in Frome. He loved the spirit of the town and the community around him. He lived by his values and changed lives simply by being who he was. He was very much his own person, lived with integrity and left the world a kinder place than he found it.

Graham will be very sadly missed but remembered with love, respect and smiles.

His legacy lives on in every hedgehog we help, in the standards he set for this rescue, and in the community he helped build around our work.

May you be blessed on your journey, Graham. You are deeply loved.