Steve Mckenzie
Member
Yep ,Jean is my mum if clare can remember two little boys who lived in the house who would play on the swings infront of the Nissanhut Stephen and Philip.
United Kingdom PineValley , The Devon Wildlife Park Ltd , Follygate , Okehampton Devon (1969-1975)
- Thread starter zoowhosewho
- Start date
I think I can!
Can you remember me and my younger brother Matthew? I think I would have been 3 or 4 and he’s a year younger than me. We stayed in the caravan up the hill.
Steve Mckenzie
Member
there was two Caravans one behind the other up the track beside a couple of old apple trees, Phil my Brother fell out of one of those and gashed open his armpit. Oh and the Bear was Mini and next to mini was either Foxes or Racoons,the other side of Mini was the Vulture enclosure i believe a couple of Griffin Vultures and Egyptian's, Vultures that is, across the yard tall building big sliding doors i think we kept Mitch the Thailand otter during winter.
In that yard Phil and I would play one day on our peddle cars i thought Phil jumped on my back' i turned around and it was Coco the Abysinion Ape had escaped from his tether and carrying his chain under one arm while he chased phil and i into the house.
Do you recall any of that ? Memories things that will always be with me. I think out of the whole Family i was the only one never got bit 1. Mum Mauld by Mini. 2. eldest younger sister Carol Mauld by Mini. 3. Dad hand bitten by Coco where his canines joined up through the palm. 4. Lin, eldest sister attacked form behind by the Racoons. and 5. Philip while he an i was playing on the swings Coco got of again and took a huge bite out of his Calf mussle 6. Not sure about Dave the eldest sibling.
Hope you enjoy reading.
Steve Mckenzie
Member
I have been living in the States for 30 years I was born in 1967 and Phil 1968
I was also born in 1967 and Matthew in 1968 - so we are the same age!
Thank you for sharing your memories with me.
I don’t remember any of that! I do remember being chased by a goose (I think).
My brother Matthew fell into a big patch of stinging nettles near the caravan - I didn’t realise there were 2 caravans though!
I do remember the bear Mini and some monkeys plus the otters. I know there a photo of my dad in the office with some otters! I need to have a look for the photos.
It’s great to be in touch.
Thank you for sharing your memories with me.
I don’t remember any of that! I do remember being chased by a goose (I think).
My brother Matthew fell into a big patch of stinging nettles near the caravan - I didn’t realise there were 2 caravans though!
I do remember the bear Mini and some monkeys plus the otters. I know there a photo of my dad in the office with some otters! I need to have a look for the photos.
It’s great to be in touch.
Another memory is going to the laundrette to do our washing and whilst that was happening we put leaflets on car windscreens under the windscreen wipers advertising the wildlife park.
Something else I can remember is arriving in the snow and a tractor having to tow our car up to the caravan!
Steve Mckenzie
Member
HI Clare, the caravan you guys was in lined up with the gateway to the top paddock where the use to be a big Marquee where the used to sell Teas and pops, i believe the other caravan was moved down by the Nissan hut close to the swings.
Do you recall the Couple Mr, and Mrs. Baboons, Phil and i coming home from school, Walking up the driveway Mr and Mrs was climbing up the crabapple tree and Mrs Fell out the tree, Me and Phil started laughing her and if you know they don't like to be humiliated. Eyelids went back mouths wide open showing there Fangs chased phil and me into the house through the living room and the kitchen and into the toilet slamed the door shut just in time, we are screaming trying to hold the door shut as they are yanking the handle to get to us, pretty scary as just little kids.
That sounds terrifying! I think that must have been after we left if you were old enough to be at school as I hadn’t started school then.
I do remember the marquee I think. Was it khaki in colour? I remember I had never heard of that colour before and thought it was “car key”!
I do remember the marquee I think. Was it khaki in colour? I remember I had never heard of that colour before and thought it was “car key”!
Another silly think I can remember is my mum had her white Mini there and she drove over what she thought was an empty card board box - but it wasn’t empty and had one of your bells in it. Her number plate got bent as a result and was like that for many years afterwards!
I remember one of the goats getting into our caravan whilst we were out. It ate a bunch of bananas before making a start on the foam seating!
Was the Nissan hut where the office was?
I’m trying to remember the swings - was one of them a baby swing with a bar across the front ?
Steve Mckenzie
Member
Bells not sure what you mean?
Steve Mckenzie
Member
The office was the end of the building like if you were walking up in to the yard the first door on the right, when it was no longer used as an office it became the food preparing room for the animals
Steve Mckenzie
Member
It had two swings and on the end was like a swinging seesaw cross bar handles each end.
Steve Mckenzie
Member
By the way when i talk/text my brother Phil we use Telegram can you use Telegram if so you will see a picture of phil and I having Boots of Beer at my local Brewery in Stevensville Michigan
Balls not bells!
I haven’t used Telegram but could download it. Which one is it - Telegram Messenger?