From the outside, Jan Creamer and Tim Phillips appear to be a typical retired couple enjoying a quiet life in the Surrey suburbs. The reality, however, is anything but ordinary. For nearly five decades, this formidable pair have been at the forefront of exposing global animal cruelty, orchestrating daring rescues and pioneering undercover investigations that have changed laws worldwide.
A Life Changed by 'Smoking Beagles'
Now 73, Jan Creamer's life of activism began in 1975 after reading an exposé by The People newspaper. The story detailed how beagles were forced to smoke in a laboratory research programme. "The smoking beagles story changed my life," she states. "There was nothing more important than exposing and stopping cruelty to animals. Everything else seemed trivial by comparison."
She immediately left her career in architectural design, became a vegan, and volunteered for the National Anti-Vivisection Society. It was there she met Tim Phillips, 64, who had abandoned banking for the cause. Together, they co-founded Animal Defenders International (ADI), embarking on a mission to reveal the truth behind closed doors in circuses, farms, and labs.
Undercover Missions and Watershed Moments
In an era before digital technology, their investigations required ingenuity. They rigged up cameras with bulky battery packs hidden in their clothing. "We went into a circus once and I was filming secretly when Tim turned to me and said, 'Your head is smoking'," Jan recalls of an overheating camera.
Their painstaking work culminated in a landmark investigation into UK circuses. Using pinhole cameras, they captured evidence that led to the 1999 prosecution of circus boss Mary Chipperfield, who was found guilty of 13 counts of cruelty for repeatedly beating an 18-month-old chimpanzee named Trudy with a riding whip. Elephant keeper Steve Gills was jailed in late 1998 for attacks on elephants.
"Those are the kind of screams that stay with you forever," Jan says of the chimpanzee's cries. This case, involving almost two years of undercover work, became a catalyst for bans on animal circuses in the UK and scores of other countries.
A Lifetime Commitment with No Regrets
The couple's dedication has come at a personal cost, including choosing not to have children to devote themselves fully to the cause. "It was a choice we both made. We wanted to devote ourselves to this cause and we don't have any regrets," Jan affirms.
Their work continues unabated. ADI has helped smash illegal animal trafficking networks, spearheaded bans on fur farming and animal experiments, and rescues animals from circuses, rehoming them in sanctuaries like a 455-acre reserve in South Africa. They are currently fundraising to rescue seven maltreated tigers from a circus in Guatemala.
Vowing never to retire, Jan concludes: "We may not have the same energy we did in our 20s but our commitment hasn't changed and we are not retiring anytime soon." Their story remains a powerful testament to the impact of relentless compassion and evidential campaigning on animal welfare legislation globally.
