United Kingdom Geoffrey St George Schomberg FZS (1927-1997)

[zoowhosewho]

Geoffrey St George Schomberg FZS (1927-1997) , Mr Schomberg was born in London in 1927 ... He was in school at Chesterton Boys School in Seaford ,Sussex in 1939 ...In later years he was educated in Eton and Oxford ... He was a Stockbroker but was always keen on Zoos their welfare and also dreamt of owning his own zoo... In 1957 he published his first book "British Zoos A Study of Animals in Captivity" ... he had visited several Zoos and wrote about them ... Also in 1957 (24th April ) he married Clare Michell ... In the early 1960's he had 2 daughters born ... In 1965 he divorced Clare ... In 1966 The Federation of Zoos in Britain and Ireland was formed by Mr Schomberg (seemingly in Islington , London ) and he was Secretary for 9 years ... in 1970 Mr Schomberg had another book published "The Penguin Guide to British Zoos" ... All the Zoos and Establishments were graded by him and he commented on every single one with his opinion ... In 1974 he was the Editor of International Zoo News for a few years ... By 1975 he had married Elizabeth Beck and was now living in Suffolk ... He became a Director of a Zoo planning consultancy which designed Zoos mainly for overseas governments ... In 1976 he had major input in the AA "Wildlife in Britain" Book ..

Sadly Mr Schomberg passed away in 1997 in Llanelli , Carmarthenshire ... Wales ....
The Federation of Zoos in Britain and Ireland in 2005 became BIAZA ( The British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums)

His research and writings on Zoos are still renowned today ... He made and slayed a lot of Establishments just with his comments

 

[zooboy]

Geoffrey St George Schomberg FZS (1927-1997) , Mr Schomberg was born in London in 1927 ... He was in school at Chesterton Boys School in Seaford ,Sussex in 1939 ...In later years he was educated in Eton and Oxford ... He was a Stockbroker but was always keen on Zoos their welfare and also dreamt of owning his own zoo... In 1957 he published his first book "British Zoos A Study of Animals in Captivity" ... he had visited several Zoos and wrote about them ... Also in 1957 (24th April ) he married Clare Michell ... In the early 1960's he had 2 daughters born ... In 1965 he divorced Clare ... In 1966 The Federation of Zoos in Britain and Ireland was formed by Mr Schomberg (seemingly in Islington , London ) and he was Secretary for 9 years ... in 1970 Mr Schomberg had another book published "The Penguin Guide to British Zoos" ... All the Zoos and Establishments were graded by him and he commented on every single one with his opinion ... In 1974 he was the Editor of International Zoo News for a few years ... By 1975 he had married Elizabeth Beck and was now living in Suffolk ... He became a Director of a Zoo planning consultancy which designed Zoos mainly for overseas governments ... In 1976 he had major input in the AA "Wildlife in Britain" Book ..

Sadly Mr Schomberg passed away in 1997 in Llanelli , Carmarthenshire ... Wales ....
The Federation of Zoos in Britain and Ireland in 2005 became BIAZA ( The British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums)

His research and writings on Zoos are still renowned today ... He made and slayed a lot of Establishments just with his comments

"He made and slayed a lot of Establishments just with his comments" But his comments were invariably correct and well considered. His gentlemanly upper-class persona, undoubtedly a product of his education, contrasted with his down-to-earth interest in, and enthusiasm for, zoos. His second wife, Baroness Elizabeth Beck, had her own private menagerie of animals including an adult Sloth bear that she used to take for walks in the countryside; she wrote a book about her animals "Murgatroyd Started It!"

 

[FBBird]

"He made and slayed a lot of Establishments just with his comments" But his comments were invariably correct and well considered. His gentlemanly upper-class persona, undoubtedly a product of his education, contrasted with his down-to-earth interest in, and enthusiasm for, zoos. His second wife, Baroness Elizabeth Beck, had her own private menagerie of animals including an adult Sloth bear that she used to take for walks in the countryside; she wrote a book about her animals "Murgatroyd Started It!"

I need to check my copy of Baroness Beck's book, but I'm pretty sure she had the bear during her previous marriage, and her then husband shot it after it had mauled her.
I didn't know she has been married to Schomberg. The stuff one learns on Zoochat!

 

[zoowhosewho]

"He made and slayed a lot of Establishments just with his comments" But his comments were invariably correct and well considered. His gentlemanly upper-class persona, undoubtedly a product of his education, contrasted with his down-to-earth interest in, and enthusiasm for, zoos. His second wife, Baroness Elizabeth Beck, had her own private menagerie of animals including an adult Sloth bear that she used to take for walks in the countryside; she wrote a book about her animals "Murgatroyd Started It!"

Thank you ... I never knew about Baroness Becks book so I just splashed out £2.54 and bought it ... including postage ??????

 

[FBBird]

Thank you ... I never knew about Baroness Becks book so I just splashed out £2.54 and bought it ... including postage ??????

Wish I could find my copy! Possibly need to tidy the house....

 

[Pertinax]

His research and writings on Zoos are still renowned today ... He made and slayed a lot of Establishments just with his comments

I met him very briefly once. At the time I thought how untypical of normal 'zoo folk' he seemed with his exquisite upperclass manners and speech, and wondered how he came to be on the zoo scene.

As to 'Murgatroyd' the Sloth Bear ( I remember the title but have never read it), I'm not surprised it had to be shot. Presumably it was a cute cub when first acquired but they are unpredictable, bad-tempered creatures as adults. In the wild they are regarded as particularly dangerous as if surprised, they will frequently attack.

 

[zooboy]

I need to check my copy of Baroness Beck's book, but I'm pretty sure she had the bear during her previous marriage, and her then husband shot it after it had mauled her.
I didn't know she has been married to Schomberg. The stuff one learns on Zoochat!

I should have made it clearer that she had the bear (plus chimpanzee and other animals) when she was married to her first husband. The bear severely mauled her and that is why it was shot. And, Pertinax, the Murgatroyd in the title was a ferret, not the bear who was called - wait for it - "Bear".

 

[Pertinax]

The bear severely mauled her and that is why it was shot. And, Pertinax, the Murgatroyd in the title was a ferret, not the bear who was called - wait for it - "Bear".

Oh, I see...starting with a ferret does sound more typical.

 

[FBBird]

I should have made it clearer that she had the bear (plus chimpanzee and other animals) when she was married to her first husband. The bear severely mauled her and that is why it was shot. And, Pertinax, the Murgatroyd in the title was a ferret, not the bear who was called - wait for it - "Bear".

Took the words right out of my mouth (with apologies to Meatloaf!).