Thanks for the positive comments about the book, I'm glad you enjoyed it Hothamfan. It has been well received locally and raised a bit of money for Hotham Park Heritage Trust and Bognor Museum already.
'July, 1955 family caravan holiday, Pagham, Sussex - a set on Flickr' - they're great aren't they. Five are from Hotham Park Pets' Corner. There's another one too where they are feeding rabbits, in the complete set that I wondered about; it is with a different set but may have been misplaced.
Pacu, had a look, you're reckoning I've missed a rabbit pic. Can you say which set. I see five individual pics, in total. One is duplicated Is there a sixth? BTW: I've jsut added some new pics to my Flickr My fav: http://www.flickr.com/photos/40770745@N06/8515410193
I'll message you. Great collection of photos you are building up on Flickr. Isn't the boating lake shallow!
I believe a Drill went to Hotham from Chessington Zoo - where it was born , I think a male and I am sure a Chimp also went with it !? (I would have to check my records to be sure). I think this was around the mid-1950s ?
I believe the Drill was male and did come from Chessington but do not have any reliable evidence to prove it. The only chimps recorded at Hotham Park were there later and came from Chester and Howletts. If you do have any evidence of a chimp before this I would be keen to know the details.
I would also be very tempted to speculate this was the same male Drill that ended up at Drusillas and died in the early 1970's. Somewhere along the way he was castrated. It seems perhaps a very unlikely species for Drusillas to have acquired otherwise, though you could say the same about Hotham too I suppose.
Yes I will look through my notes about it when i get a chance, I have ordered your book so I am eagerly waiting for it to arrive. I have PM`d you about something else.
Monty Python filmed in Hotham Park 1971 Monty Python in Hotham Park - a set on Flickr Pacu tells me... Monty Python filmed in Hotham Park in 1971 See the sketches on Youtube. Shows a fleeting glimpse of the penguin Pool, and hte Dovecote. October 1971. Youtube 'Struggle for Life and death' and "Penguin Research"
I've jsut been told of 4-5 more Hotham Park pictures, from a freind. From his family album. Will put these up as soon as I have them, these Monty Python screen-grabs for now...
I used to work on the ' bumper boats ' many many years ago during the school holidays with mark galpin and Martin simmerling they were great days
Great, were the boats battery operated or did they run petrol/deisel engines? I take it you've seen this: https://www.flickr.com/photos/40770745@N06/sets/72157645193957143/ Were you there in the era of the zoo, and the larger pedal go-karts or are we talking later than that. We'd love to hear of more of your memories... Were you employed by the Parks Dept or was there an operator running it? Do you have any pics?
No pics I'm afraid boats were electric and charged mainly overnight it was run by a husband and wife team unfortunately can't remember their names zoo was there and the large go karts I'd forgotten about the bridge though. Funnily enough many years after it all closed I was in a band and we played at what was then called rainbows end lol
Thank you marcs. Only today I've added two more 'Bumper Boat' pics. And Pacu came thru' witha Deer piccy. Leccy? OK. Now you mention it, even to me as a 9-10 year old boy, it seemed they were gutless things! Mid 70s? Your band later played at Rainbow's End, Twas your big break was it? I take it by then we're talking 80s? I'm 53, how old are you? I only ask to get an idea of dateline.
[ame=http://www.amazon.co.uk/books/dp/1447816293]Bognor's Zoo: Amazon.co.uk: Joe Mersey: 9781447816294: Books[/ame] It's certainly worth reading if you have an interest in the zoo although it would - of course - been good to have had even more detail and a greater number of pictures.
Thank you Sooty Mangabey. I could now add another chapter including the postcards that have been published, Since publication I have uncovered a little more information and images and have also been sent some more photographs as a result of the talks I have done locally. For example I have a photo of one of the camels and the zebra during their circus days which I will load separately. If I ever did make a second edition, would you be kind enough to let me use your photos of the fox and lion cub? They would be a worthy addition.
