Description

Book Synopsis

''With characteristic self-effacement, she puts the escapades of charismatic animals ahead of her own feelings.'' The Guardian.


When George Mottershead moved to the village of Upton-by-Chester in 1930 to realise his dream of opening a zoo without bars, his four-year-old daughter June had no idea how extraordinary her life would become. Soon her best friend was a chimpanzee called Mary, lion cubs and parrots were vying for her attention in the kitchen, and finding a bear tucked up in bed was no more unusual than talking to a tapir about granny''s lemon curd. Pelican, penguin or polar bear - for June, they were simply family.

The early years were not without their obstacles for the Mottersheads. They were shunned by the local community, bankruptcy threatened and then World War Two began. Nightly bombing raids turned the dream into a nightmare and finding food for the animals became a constant challenge. Yet George''s resilience, r

Our Zoo

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    A Paperback / softback by June Mottershead

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      Book details

      Publisher Headline Publishing Group
      Published 21 May 2015
      ISBN-13 9781472226365
      978-1472226365
      ISBN-10 1472226364
      Also in:
      Biography Autobiography: general Memoirs Natural History Zoos, aquariums, safari and wildlife parks

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      ''With characteristic self-effacement, she puts the escapades of charismatic animals ahead of her own feelings.'' The Guardian.


      When George Mottershead moved to the village of Upton-by-Chester in 1930 to realise his dream of opening a zoo without bars, his four-year-old daughter June had no idea how extraordinary her life would become. Soon her best friend was a chimpanzee called Mary, lion cubs and parrots were vying for her attention in the kitchen, and finding a bear tucked up in bed was no more unusual than talking to a tapir about granny''s lemon curd. Pelican, penguin or polar bear - for June, they were simply family.

      The early years were not without their obstacles for the Mottersheads. They were shunned by the local community, bankruptcy threatened and then World War Two began. Nightly bombing raids turned the dream into a nightmare and finding food for the animals became a constant challenge. Yet George''s resilience, r

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