Follow us!

Wulf’s Blog

Saturday 4th June 2011

It’s been an eventful week. Firstly it was Fool’s Week. Preparation took place well in advance. A large marquee was erected next to the play ground, to house firstly a wedding last Saturday, as well as many of the events taking place during Fool’s Week. The World Owl Trust were able to take advantage of this by utilizing the marquee for the WOT charity concert, which featured as headliners former Lindisfarne front man Billy Mitchell and his band, and in support; one of Cumbria’s finest musical exports; the Olly Alcock Band. The gig was a big success, netting the World Owl Trust around £1300 - Clear profit. Not bad for a night’s fun. I have included a few photos from the gig at the end of the blog. The atmosphere was ‘electric’. The Olly Alcock Band went on at 7.30pm, setting to tone for the rest of the evening, with the larger than life character Olly Alcock bringing his own brand of brilliant crack as well as his firebrand guitar playing to Muncaster for the first time. The rest of the band was no shrinking violets either. The rhythm section ably anchored both Olly and saxophonist Roz Sluman’s instruments. Roz matched Olly Alcock’s every guitar lick on her sax. The pair of them dazzled the audience with their virtuosity.

The headline act; the Billy Mitchell Band came on and the audience were immediately charmed by Billy’s Geordie crack. Billy had performed at Muncaster the year before alongside Bob Fox. This Billy Mitchell was a slightly more ‘rocked up’ version to the one we’d seen the previous year. He was joined on drums by his friend from his Lindisfarne days; Ray Laidlaw. Highlights for me were a brilliant version of ‘Shiftin’ to the Toon’ and ‘Fog on the Tyne’.

The following day, we had to pick ourselves up and carry on with the rest of Fool’s Week. We were joined by some of our regular volunteers; Kirsten, Nicky, John, as well as Carla Gudgeon who has been a World Owl Trust fundraiser for a number of years now.

The owls have a few news worthy events to add to the above proceedings; First sightings of owlets have taken place over the last week as well; We have seen a Tengmalm’s Owlet. This is a first for the World Owl Trust. We have had Tengmalm’s Owls on and off since around 1997. We also have 3 Burrowing Owlets and 2 African Spotted Eagle Owlets. All good news.

See you next week.

Wulf
Head Keeper

Click: to E-mail Wulf

Wulf introducing The Olly Alcock Band Picture courtesy Andy Chafe

Some of the atmosphere in the marquee Picture courtesy Andy Chafe

Olly Alcock strutting his stuff Picture courtesy Andy Chafe

The Billy Mitchell Band Picture courtesy Andy Chafe

The one and only Billy Mitchell Picture courtesy Andy Chafe

World Owl Trust Registered Charity Number: 1107529 Limited Company Number: 5296745

The World Owl Trust is a member of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) and the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA). The Trust relies on a dedicated membership, visitors, donations and legacies.