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Coventry Zoo and The Zulu

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NeilsYard
Coventry
46 of 55  Tue 9th Jul 2019 4:34pm  

Similar to my earlier one but probably from the same Telegraph shoot (and more of the flyover build) -
Sport, Music and Leisure - Coventry Zoo and The Zulu
mcsporran
Coventry & Cebu
47 of 55  Sat 19th Oct 2019 12:34pm  

Who remembers the dolphin at the zoo? - short video clip. There's also some film of the Zulu here.
Sport, Music and Leisure - Coventry Zoo and The Zulu
Wearethemods
48 of 55  Sun 20th Oct 2019 10:25am  
Off-topic / chat  

Garlands Joke Shop
Coventry
49 of 55  Sun 18th Oct 2020 4:43pm  

Link to Coventry telegraph article (17/10/2020) about the Coventry Zoo and Zulu. Thumbs up
Sport, Music and Leisure - Coventry Zoo and The Zulu
NeilsYard
Coventry
50 of 55  Mon 9th Oct 2023 11:36am  

The Zulu has resurfaced again! Chap called Tony Pedley on FB has bought it (its being covered by CWR at the moment) - Whilst looking there is also a snippet of video here
Sport, Music and Leisure - Coventry Zoo and The Zulu
NeilsYard
Coventry
51 of 55  Mon 9th Oct 2023 11:36am  

It was lowered into place outside Coventry Zoo on 18 March 1970.
Sport, Music and Leisure - Coventry Zoo and The Zulu
Garlands Joke Shop
Coventry
52 of 55  Fri 20th Oct 2023 4:48pm  

Due to the recent updates and rediscovery of the Zulu face and spear tip I thought I'd better update the timeline: •  April 1966- Coventry Zoo opens (The rise and fall of Coventry Zoo) •  Late 1960's- Coventry Zoo's 35ft, fibreglass Zulu statue made in late 1960's by 'Fantasy Decor' in Scunthorpe and sold to Coventry Zoo at a price of £1500. • 18 March 1970- 2.5 tons Zulu statue lowered into place at entrance to Coventry Zoo, Whitley. (NeilsYard- Historic Coventry Forum Post, 2023)    •  1980- Zoo brought by Meireel Consortium and closed. •  1980- Statue removed and taken to Freddie Barnes' Scrapyard in Baginton, Coventry (where he intended to stand it in the Scrapyard). •  Early 1980's- Gary and Wayne Anderson luckily save head, spear and big toe of statue after finding the statue in an overgrown part of the yard "... The brothers couldn't bear the thought of losing their giant piece of Coventry history and, despite cash offers coming in, they refused to part with it. Instead it became part of the family, spending time all over the city..." •  1989- Freddie Barnes passes away. •  1989- J. R. Sharman Dismantlers clear yard and discover statue in a poor state laying down. Mr Sharman attempted to recover the statue but the old fibreglass structure crumbled. Scrap metal from the statue was scrapped and the fibreglass was buried at the rear of the Baginton scrapyard. "... Mr Sharman concluded: "In short, the Zulu warrior died of old age and I did the decent thing and buried him ..." •  2011- Gary Anderson and Family took the head to 'Dickinson's Real Deal' at the Ricoh Arena (where they were advised to sell it on eBay- but stated "We'd love to see him go to one of the city's galleries or museums so he could be restored and put on show though." (Long lost Coventry Zoo Zulu warrior turns up at last) •  2012 to 2023. Location = Unknown. •  Early October 2023. Zulu face and Spear tip brought by local antique dealer, Tony Pedley, after the face and spear had been living in a loft for many years. Condition is reasonable. Fibreglass of nose and chin shows some degeneration and the horns have some damage/ been lost. Mr Pedley has wisely chosen not to repair it as not to lose it's character (apart from replacing/ fixing the missing horns of course). It is nice to know the Zulu has a caring new owner who has chosen to display it. (BBC: Head of Coventry Zoo's Zulu statue set for public display) Zulu toe location is still unknown (I suspect the fibreglass may have disintegrated by now and was probably thrown away). • 19 October 2023. Zulu face and spear now on Public display at the 888 emporium (888 Foleshill Road, Coventry), a store owned by Mr Pedley specialising in antiques, collectables and various memorabilia. Mr Pedley hopes that people will come and see the Zulu and possibly raise money for the Myton Hospice charity. (BBC: Head of Coventry Zoo's Zulu statue back on public display) (Twitter/ X link for BBCCWR audio interview with Mr Pedley). I'm thrilled this piece of Coventry history has been found and finally put on public display (Thank you Tony Pedley! Double thumbs up ) I think with this, I can finally say, with some degree of certainty:
Sport, Music and Leisure - Coventry Zoo and The Zulu
Mick Strong
Coventry
53 of 55  Fri 20th Oct 2023 6:06pm  

Hi and a great summary. On another point, was Freddie Barnes also a professional wrestler?
Mick Strong

Sport, Music and Leisure - Coventry Zoo and The Zulu
Garlands Joke Shop
Coventry
54 of 55  Fri 20th Oct 2023 8:11pm  

Hi Mick and Thank you <3 Thumbs up Yes! Freddie Barnes wrestled under the name Prince Barnu. Even wrestled the boxer Randolph Turpin!!! (wrestlingdata.com)
Sport, Music and Leisure - Coventry Zoo and The Zulu
Not Local
Bedworth
55 of 55  Fri 20th Oct 2023 8:44pm  

My long departed friend knew Freddie Barnes back in the 40's and 50's. He used to tell a tale of Mr Barnes promoting a wrestling tournament and being a bit short of wrestlers. The first bout of the evening featured a masked wrestler called 'The Dark Destroyer' or something similar and he had a physique just like Mr Barnes. The final bout of the evening featured Freddie Barnes as himself. I suppose if he won both bouts it would save him as the promoter having to pay out too much prize money.
Sport, Music and Leisure - Coventry Zoo and The Zulu

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