Stanthorne pet lions

Hi Dave

Surprise that anyone remembers the lions ,I was me and a friend that kept them in a stables at Stanthorn Mill

Please let me know what you need ,happy to me up as I now live in Hartford, although I am currently in Naples FL

David

Hiya David,  I can remember  the excitement  of the dyoty in the guardian and chronicle. 

 I always wish I had seen  them, it would have been amazing.

 Did you have cubs or full grown lions?

 I suspect  that you  wouldn't be allowed to do it now.

 Dave

Story begins in the Bull at Dave ham where every Friday night my friend Peter and I would meet with the vets from willows in Hartford,as beer was involved the vets stated that Oxford zoo had gone bankrupt the un allocated animals if not placed would be distroyed.more beer what is left the vet said two lion cubs a boy and a girl ,more beer, yes we said not considering the implications.the following Friday we were both sat down pre beer and were told in no uncertain terms what We would need council permission dangerous animal licence, alarm,cctv mobile phones 24 hour security plan

And so the list went on .by this time we had lost the will to live and then things brighten up as the beer arrives,we say ok we can do all that please advise The zoo we will have the cubs ,if you have ever tried to do some thing liked this,it took four months of ,shock horror and ant other barrier to prevent this from happening .all done of to Oxford,arrive to virtually empty zoo very sad , a lady appears paperwork please, then she disappears to return with a card board box ,here you go two cats!!

Do not underant circumstances open the box until you have it in the cage at stanthorne,ok

On the way back we can hear all sorts of chirruping from the back of the ester,next we need fuel,motorway services ,let’s have a look open the box and wow the guys were as bright as a button .next thing they are out of the box inspecting the car ,,look the in the car sales I whilst we fill up and pay ,returned Fromm the kiosk to find 12 people looking agast

Thats fantastic,  I can just imagine  the cubs startl8ng ever at the petrol pumps !!

  I guess a very secure enclosure  had to be built , did you ever take them for a walk while they were cubs ,

They were called Mork and Mindy we never took them out ,we played with them in the cages ,fed them and stayed whilst they eat,Mindy had a week heart and passed when she was about three and a big cat Mork was a big cat and very playful but naughty,but when Mindy passed he became lonely,in the end we spoke to Chester zoo and they found him a new home in Blackpool at chipperfields as he was such a great example and he went into stub and had a ball 

Plane has just arrived talk again

Now in Atlanta awaiting for. Vergin flight to Manchester,the cubs lived in the mill stables which are still their ,I believe are still their,building was internally clad in steel mesh the horse brick dividers were substantial enough, to acces the bays we had steel vertices barriers which were on electric winches,internal and external cameras in black and white,concrete floors ,

When they were cubs we used to take school kids in to pet them ,but best of all we had a arrangement with Henshaws school for the blind in Manchester .now when you put a cud  into the arms of a blind child it was a wonderful sight the cubs loved the attention and licked the kids with their very rough youngest.

Talk again