A Tribute
By Sophi
One of my earliest memories of Keith was meeting him outside Kynance, dressed in a suit and in a bit of a rush. “I didn’t know you did home visits?” I said, noticing the bag he carried, “I’m off to check on Elisabeth Taylor’s dog, she has a yacht moored up the river” he replied as if it were a normal thing to do. As he walked off, I stood gob-smacked in the pebbled mews in awe of my vet. As a young impressionable new behaviour consultant, being taken under the wing of John Perry the then owner of Dog Hollow and being introduced to the legendary Dr Keith Butt was like being given the keys to some magical kingdom. Over more than 20 years, the friendship and support he gave me was unwavering and I never lost that sense of awe being around him.
Keith Butt held council in Kynance Mews for over 50 years having first set up the clinic in 1963. In those days it wasn’t unusual for him to see the elite with their big cats bought at Harrods or the odd monkey or two. I remember telling him that I had met John Rendall of Christian the Lion fame and he distractedly replied “oh yes, I remember him well. They bought that cat in a few times. Nice chaps”. I think he was probably emptying Scout’s anal sacs at the time, he was the only one she would let do it. For half a century plus, Keith’s name was synonymous with Kensington and Chelsea’s pets and he loved every one of them. He had an uncanny gift for remembering every animal and its owner by name and ailment. Many of the Kynance clients have been loyal for as long as the surgery has been there, a testament to the man who started it all.
He always had time for me. From persuading me not to give up when university got tough to supporting me when my late business partner died and left me a Dog Hollow riddled in debt. From pulling me out of a deep depression when my beloved Macgyver died to making me laugh with his dead pan jokes, he was always there as friend, a confidante and an advisor. Oh, and he was a brilliant vet too. The only time he and I ever fell out is when, in his words, I nicked his best veterinary nurse Alison. He didn’t speak to me for a week. Not long after that, I had to ask him to put my German Shepherd, Scout to sleep after losing the fight against cancer. I commented afterwards about the tears in his eyes and he told me he had tears for every pet he had to let go. His compassion spread to humans too and I leant on his shoulder more than once after Tony died.
Keith moved into the Royal Trinity Hospice once he and Serena realised that he would be more comfortable there and I, like so many of his friends, visited regularly. And our dogs. I think even a cat went once too. He was so proud when he received a lifetime achievement award and medal from The Dogs Trust who he had championed for many years. The hospice staff were simply amazing and often stopped to stroke the various canines that walked through the doors. One nurse asked me why so many dogs visited and I told her Keith was a vet. “He must be a very good vet” she said. He was the best.
And so, thank you Dr Keith Martin Butt VetMB MA(Cantab) MRCVS of 8 Kynance Mews SW7 4QP. Thank you from all the dogs both past and present for your compassion and knowledge. Thank you from all of us at Dog Hollow for your guidance and support through the years. And thank you from me for being my mentor and friend.
Love you always xx
In memory of Keith Butt 6th May 1936 – 4th April 2019
