The wife of a Hollywood A-lister has come to the aid of a flood-hit animal hospice.
Stella Hopkins – who is married to Silence of the Lambs star Sir Anthony Hopkins – made a $2,000 donation to a fundraiser for the Maggie Fleming Animal Hospice.
The centre near Dundrennan was badly damaged and in need of new flood defences after heavy rain earlier this month, prompting Zara Hay – pal of the hospice’s owner Alexis Fleming - to set up an online fundraiser.
And when former Dumfries man John Lockhart saw the campaign, he got in touch with Stella and asked her to help out.
John, who now runs an art and entertainment business in Houston, Texas, said: “I have known Sir Anthony Hopkins for many years and when he started painting I represented him as an artist for five years, selling his works at our art gallery here in Houston.
“He is a lovely man with very little ego for such a great actor and artist.
“His wife Stella is the owner of the division that deals with his paintings and through many meetings and lunches with her it was evident she was a great cat lover.
“When I saw the link on Facebook from Zara on I immediately thought of Stella and contacted her – within minutes she had made a donation.”
Zara said: “It was a huge surprise – I can’t repeat what Alexis said when I told her but she was very happy.
“I didn’t believe it myself at first.
“The point of the posts was to raise money but also to get help for Alexis.
The $2,000 donation is separate to the Go Fund Me page that Zara set up, which so far has raised more than £1,400. To donate, visit https://uk.gofundme.com/f/hmxn7
