Animal rights supporters everywhere have been shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Keith Mann. Keith was raised in Rochdale, and his first direct action was rescuing a neighbour’s rabbit, who was being maltreated in a tiny hutch.
Before long Keith became a hunt sab, quickly becoming an inspirational figure in the northern sabbing scene. One tiny anecdote illustrates this quality: at a late 1980s mass hit on a 5am cubbing meet of the formidable Cheshire Forest Foxhounds, Keith marched straight up to their ten-strong terrier crew and said, “You’ll be going home with clean dogs today.” There was then a pitched battle – with Keith to the fore – that lasted most of the morning, but Keith was proved right: the hunt headed home without a kill.
A skilled horn blower, Keith would crop up all over the north, in his wax jacket and with his sabbing whip stowed down the side of his Hunter wellies, but he was never happier than when saving hares from the Holcombe Harriers who were based virtually on his doorstep.
Keith also served on the HSA Committee as Fringe Bloodsports Officer, gathering and acting on intelligence about badger baiters, dog fighters and similar lowlife. He was also present on the terrible day in February 1991, when fellow Manchester hunt sab Mike Hill was killed by the huntsman of the Cheshire Beagles.
In October 1991 Keith was arrested on serious charges relating to animal liberation activity. During Keith’s period in custody – and facing further charges concerning raids on animal testing facilities – it became clear that he and several others had been subject to an intense police surveillance operation which sought to portray him as an Animal Liberation Front Godfather. After 20 months on remand in some of the toughest prisons in the country, Keith found himself alone in an unlocked police van: cheered on by every animal rights supporter in the country, Keith scaled a wall and made his escape!
Sadly, Keith was recaptured at an animal sanctuary in April 1994 and sentenced to fourteen years in prison, at the time the longest term ever handed out to an animal rights activist. This provoked outrage way beyond the movement and was eventually reduced to eleven years on appeal. Keith ended up serving around seven years, during which time he wrote his book From Dusk Till Dawn and on his release continued to be active for animals. He was an eloquent media performer, appearing on many talk shows and documentaries and did further time following a raid on Wickham Laboratories.
On hearing of his passing, his friend Paul T from Manchester sabs commented:
“Keith was the first person I got to know within the animal rights movement as he was the Manchester contact for the local sab group, and I wanted to get involved with sabbing. Keith taught me a lot about animal rights/sabbing/veganism which I hope I have passed onto many more people since.
One thing that I could never work out about Keith was his love of Abba and Showaddywaddy, when we would be out in the sab van on the way to a sab or a demo, he would have it playing through the van speakers!
Rest in Power Keith, you will be missed more than you will ever know.”
The HSA remembers Keith the brave hunt sab and unyielding animal liberation activist and sends heartfelt condolences to his loved ones at this sad time.
A fuller appreciation of his life will appear in our magazine HOWL in due course.
The government has launched a public consultation on Trail Hunting – this is our chance to stop cruel hunting for good. You can read the HSA’s guidance and take part in the consultation here. The deadline is 18th June 2026 – make sure your voice is heard.
Take part in the Trail Hunting Consultation now:
Support our vital work by becoming a member.
We are the only organisation that works directly in the field to save wildlife through direct action.
