Tuesday 13 May 2025
To help us celebrate Gerald Durrell's centenary year, we've been collecting stories about Gerry from our supporters. Thank you to Rob Kellough, Brian Pasby, Stephen Hill, and Rachel M for these first four.
You can submit your own memories of Gerry here.
Suzanne Abrey
I was a trainee at Jersey Zoo (then the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust) in 1990 when the Durrells returned from Madagascar with the aye-ayes and Alaotran gentle lemurs. I had the great honour and privilege of caring for these very special individuals, including Mina, Freddy and Alain, while they were in quarantine at the zoo. Happy GD100!
Robin Gilbert
It is August 1960. I am 15 almost to the day. I am on a ferry bound for St Helier, accompanied by John Uttley, only son of the creator of ‘Little Grey Rabbit’ and ‘Sam Pig’, and a friend and former colleague of my father’s, with whom we are staying on Guernsey.
A couple of days earlier, on my birthday, my parents had given me a copy of Gerald Durrell’s latest book ‘Encounters with Animals’, and I had been delighted to learn that I’d also be visiting Jersey Zoo, recently founded by Durrell as a springboard for the conservation of endangered species. Delighted, but appalled. Some months before, I had written a fan-letter to Durrell, and he had generously replied, ending his letter by saying that, if ever I was in the Channel Islands, I should be sure to visit the zoo. My parents had apparently taken this as some sort of personal invitation and had telephoned Durrell to say, as it were, “Robin Gilbert is here and would like to visit next week.” He had replied that, on arrival at reception, we should ask for him, and he would meet us there.
As we approached the harbour, I clutched my copy of Encounters with Animals, hoping that my hero would consent to sign it and not be too cross at my parents’ well-meaning impertinence. But not only did he sign the book, he said, "Look, I'm rather busy at the moment. Why don't you go and have a coffee and a quick look around? Meet me back here in an hour and I'll give you a proper tour of the zoo." And he was as good as his word.
Over the next couple of hours, John and I were given a personal introduction to everything, delivered with that blend of great knowledge, graphic description, and deep affection that shines through in the books. I might have been Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal herself - in 1963, HRH Princess Anne became the first President of the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust, as it was then called.
As for Gerry, he showed not only great kindness to me, but also the patience of a saint. We were tailed wherever we went by two middle-aged ladies, one of whom repeated to the other verbatim everything that he said. "Mavis, did you hear what he said? He said that tapirs don't get their distinctive markings until they are about two years old" and so on, until he could have been forgiven had he quickly opened the door of the lion's cage – there was a lion in those days – and shoved them in, probably to the strains of "Did you hear what he said, Mavis? He said that, if he heard one more peep out of us, he wouldn't be responsible for his actions."
It was a memorable birthday treat and when, as an undergraduate, in May 1964, I received a letter inviting me to become a member of the newly formed Trust, I joined as soon as my straitened financial circumstances would allow. I may not have turned out to be a naturalist or anything like it, but I have retained a love for the natural world that Gerry's books and example did so much to nurture when I was young.
Jocelyn Clasby
Our memories of Gerry go back to 1971, when I organised a break for my mother to stay in Jersey. It was our first flight ever and first trip to Jersey. More importantly my mother had undergone a serious operation, and the trip was to be the ideal place for rest and recuperation. It was and more, particularly when we visited Jersey Zoo. An absolute delight for us both. I was 17 at the time and had only ever visited London Zoo before. I have visited Jersey Zoo since. It brings back many happy (and sad) memories but will always remain a treasured experience in the journey through my life, as my mother sadly died 7 years later. So many good things to say about Jersey Zoo particularly the care afforded to the collection of creatures and excellent service by staff. Something that has been apparent all these years.