26th February 1951
Gerald Durrell marries the woman who will help him found his zoo
Jacquie Wolfenden was a trained opera singer, and the daughter of a Manchester hotel owner, in whose establishment Durrell stayed at the end of an expedition. It was there that they met and started a relationship that culminated in marriage on 26 February 1951
They founded Jersey Zoo together and, with Durrell’s author brother, Lawrence, she encouraged him to write the series of world-famous books that detailed his adventures collecting animals. However, the stress of both his alcoholism and his increasing workload eventually drove them apart. They divorced in 1979, and Gerald married Lee Wilson later the same year.
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Other events that occured in February
Fishermen discover an unexpected coffin
- When a paddle steamer was grounded, and sank, some of its cargo was lost, including a coffin and the corpse inside it.
- Read more…
The Channel Islands are cut off from the outside world
- The only communications link between Jersey and the mainland was severed, leaving the island isolated from the outside world.
- Read more…
Jersey courts ponder accountant’s extradition
- The Australian government sent an extradition request to Jersey's Attorney General in February 2009.
- Read more…
The tunnel is opened beneath Fort Regent
- The 253m tunnel running beneath Fort Regent cost £450,000 to complete and was opened for traffic in February 1970.
- Read more…