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
The States of Jersey adopts Jèrriais as an official language
- The States of Jersey votes to allow the island's own language to be used in debated, alongside English.
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A bishop’s daughter is killed on Jersey Railway
- The daughter of the bishop of derry stepped in front of an oncoming engine on the Jersey Railway in 1902.
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Joshua Falle, Jurat of the Royal Court, dies
- Joshua Falle gave almost 40 years' service to the Jersey States, at various times being elected as a Deputy and a Jurat.
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HD Ferries confirms the end of all services
- HD Ferries provided express services between Jersey, Guernsey, Cherbourg and St Malo between 2007 and 2009.
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