Anyone else getting bored with the same threads about twycross ? Sorry I know I could just ignore them but they always appear very bitter!
I am very sorry if I bore you, but what else can I do its not as if I can just visit when I want to like everyone else, all I can do is remember when I worked there with Miss Badham and Miss Evans as my bosses they were the old good days happy memories. I dislike the fact that someone is walking over the happy memories of all the people that worked there in the old days when Miss Badham and Miss Evans ran THEIR ZOO. If you don't like what I am posting DON'T READ THEM. If it wasn't for Miss Badham and Miss Evans there would be no Twycross Zoo. Ms Redrobe talks about it as if it is her zoo and it is not. A vet should not be running the zoo bring back the one that stood in after Mrs Boardman vanished, she was so much better. I expect everyone has forgotten the fact that Ms Redrobe was there when Mrs Boardman was the CEO so she is in my opinion one in the same.
I wouldn't say a vet should not be zoo director, however neither do I think it gives someone who is a vet an automatic pass to be being a zoo director. I asked my own vet, a lady, if she would like to be a zoo director, a definite no was her reply. By being a vet it is therefore safe to say that the person will be of high intelligence and from an academic background also an above average interest in animals, that's fine but there is a lot more to running a zoo than that, profit and loss, publicity, man management, zoo licensing etc.etc. The previous C.E.O. of Twycross was also a vet and I think it will be fare to say that during her time at Twycross she did not exactly do a good job. The present C.E.O. was part of the management team at Twycross, head of life sciences during the time Mrs. Boardman was in charge, quite a high position. Personally speaking if I had been "second in command" at the time when everything was going badly I would not have been able to keep my mouth shut and I would have done everything in my power stop this decline. I do not know if this was the case with Miss Redrobe or if she was powerless to do anything while Mrs Boardman was ruining the place. I agree that Mrs Loraine Hughes appeared to do a sterling job when she took over as temporary C.E.O. at a time when the zoo was in pretty bad shape to say the least.
As I believe I have pointed out in the past, contrary to your repeated claims that the site has no disabled access and that this is why you have not visited for nearly 20 years, Twycross *does* provide full wheelchair access to all but the lemur house - pretty much the only other area that I can think of that would cause problems for a wheelchair would be the now-demolished tropical house. Granted a visit would require more planning than it would for the able-bodied visitor, but you *could* visit if you wanted to. Possibly this might make you feel better about the collection to some degree - seeing the place rather than relying on second-hand stories and imagining the worst? Just wanted to point out that by that logic, being as Boardman was there when Miss Badham was still in charge, they were one and the same too which they certainly were not!
You assert that "someone" (Ms Redrobe?) is "walking over the happy memories" of the Twycross of the Badham/Evans era. What do you mean by this, other than Ms Redrobe's views that the treatment of chimps in the 60s/70s was detrimental to their long-term health? A view which - I suspect t - would be widely shared.
You are correct Mrs Boardman did work at Twycross when Miss Badham and Miss Evans were still in charge but not for a great length of time, less than a year while they handed over the direction of the zoo to her. I must say this thread is doing well, the programme is not broadcast until Tuesday evening and already we are up to four pages
Sorry I disagree they new how to be chimps I know this is a bit different but look at the domestic dog even thought they are mans best friend they can still go back to there ancestors the wolf. Choppers who was not a PG Tips Chimps she knew how to be a chimp she reared her baby holly without any human intervention. What I am saying is every animal knows their ancestor, she didn't need to be retrained how to be a chimps. All of this was started to get the money for the new chimp complex watch was put on central TV and listen to it especially the part about if we can raise the money Chimps were 'damaged' by TV adverts | Central - ITV News Ok the old chimp house was not right but it served a purpose but no one has mentioned the fact that Miss Badham wanted to build a chimp complex and you will see where Ms Redrobe mentions if they can raise the 3 million so don't you think this was a ploy to make people feel sorry for the chimps because they were so hard done by being made to do this advertising work. If it was so bad why wasn't it mentioned when Mrs Boardman was there ?
The two things are not always connected. It is quite possible for an Ape to be humanised/desocialised with its own species and yet still show good maternal instinct and raise offspring, should it become pregnant.
Can I just put you straight on the point where you say Mrs Boardman was there when Miss Badham was still in charge actually you are wrong, Mrs Boardman took over she didn't work for them she only had things to do with them while she took over the directorship and before she did all of the furniture was put in storage and Miss Badham had to move down to the bungalow, Miss Badham was heard to say it was the worse thing they ever did and that was before Boardman took over. Mrs Boardman was such a control freak she told all the keepers if they saw Miss Badham on zoo property in her car they were to take the keys off her but they never did. Miss Doe
Miss Badham and Miss Evans moved out of Norton Grange, which they had purchased themselves forty years earlier and moved into their bungalow down the road, near to the zoo and Miss Evans still lives there today. Norton Grange was then turned completely into offices at great expense. Mr. Friendly.
Hi Mr Friendly You are correct I knew the house had some issues but now no one lives there in fact it is just posh offices it is cripple accessible they have got a lift and a very well stocked library. Miss Doe
Yes indeed Miss Doe, I have not been in Norton Grange since it was converted into offices however I understand it is very nice inside.
Yes Mr Friendly it is not as I have been in, but over bottom kitchen that was it is all a library with computers, internet access the lot, I can't see how the keepers would have the time to go in there, there is a lift, 4 offices down near reception, the posh sitting room is a board room, and most of the upstairs are offices. regards Miss Doe
I have just watched the documentary and I found it most enjoyable and interesting. I found the old cine films of Miss Badham and Miss Evans exercising their original chimps in Sutton Park and the opening day in 1963 with Jean Moreton and her puppets fascinating.Dorothy Phillips, very much a loyal and trusted member of staff for many years gave a very good account, as did Mr Doidge, whose father was the Twycross photographer for many years, dear Choppers and the lady who donated her to Miss Badham when she was a youngster. And also the television men who had nothing but praise for Miss Badham during her years with Brooke Bond I did find it upsetting when it was told of Miss Badhams passing in 2007, SHE WAS THE ELITE. I would also like to thank the current C.E.O. of Twycross Zoo, Dr. Sharon Redrobe for informing the viewers that chimps are not toys, as I was thinking about going to Hamleys to buy one.
Maybe we should just cut the chase and you just tell us what your real problem is with Dr. Sharon Redrobe? You may disagree with her opinion but this constant snipping there has to be more? Not sure I know anyone else to go so far out of their way to discredit and slander someone that is trying to improve the life of the animals in her care just for disagreeing with a few comments.
Hi I was just wondering did you watch the program on channel 5 last night and if you did then an apology might be in order because what I put was right.
Judging by the silence of the membership of zoo chat I wonder if anybody actually watched this excellent documentary on Channel 5 last night as usually when such a programme has been broadcast it is discussed and debated upon on here at great length, however in this case nothing, most surprising I must say.
I loved it, but reading through some of the Twycross threads, I've decided not to get embroiled in the debates about animal welfare there.
