I was born in a Zoo

This was the title of the talk Laura Beal came to give to the Ladies Group. In the 1920's it was decided to fund a project where animals usually seen caged in zoos could be seen in surroundings similar to their natural habitat. To this end, after much searching, a large estate comprising 500 acres was purchased in a hamlet called Whipsnade for around £13,000. It was ideally situated on rolling hills and within easy travelling distance of London. However, it was not without problems as there was no running water and a public footpath ran right through the estate. Once these problems had been solved staff were needed to run the zoo, including a vet and as the speaker's father had spent many years on the Gold Coast, now Ghana, and was used to treating unusual animals he was chosen for the post.

The much publicised opening day was Whit Monday in 1931 and thousands of people flocked to Whipsnade on trains, as few people had cars in those days. Once there they saw camels, giraffes, elephants, bears, lions, tigers, deer and many other animals in huge fields. Some animals were given by private owners, some by zoos and a travelling menagerie which was closing gave all its animals to Whipsnade, including a number of elephants. These elephants had arrived by train at Luton station and as the country roads were too small for large vehicles the keepers walked their charges several miles to the zoo. We saw photos of crowds lining the streets to see this spectacle go by.

Laura Beal was born at Whipsnade and enjoyed a lovely childhood with brothers growing up amongst the animals. Evacuees came and stayed with them during the war years and she remembers one boy in particular who was a great friend of her brothers, his name was Gerald Durrell.

Endangered species were brought to Whipsnade to be reared and to breed and sometimes sent to other zoos as Marwell is doing. Laura Beal's love of animals has remained and now she lives in Hampshire she is very involved with Marwell Zoo where she is a guide. Coaches are organised for older people and they can travel all round the zoo and see the animals from the coach and finish up the visit with a cream tea.

This was a very interesting and amusing talk and thoroughly enjoyed by everyone.

Margaret Deal

St George's Ladies Group September meeting

At our first meeting in September we welcomed Mick Lyons BEM, appeals co-ordinator at Queen Alexandra Hospital for the "Rocky Appeal". This is the charity we are supporting this year. Mick told us first how the Rocky Charity first started, it was when his own Mother was diagnosed with cancer and he realised that there was so little in place to either help patients fight the disease both physically and mentally. New diagnostic equipment was limited and very expensive, costing almost a million pounds for each machine.

This started his crusade to raise money so that the Portsmouth area could have the best and most up to date equipment to give every patient a greater chance of survival. The appeal now is for a unique cancer laboratory for research and clinical excellence, to revolutionise anti cancer treatment, tailored to each patient's individual needs. This unique laboratory which will cost two million pounds just to get started, will also pass its expertise to other hospitals for the good of all. Over £1.5 million pounds has so far been raised for this important research.

June Bradley