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Gerald Malcolm Durrell (1925-1995) was the youngest son of Lawrence Samuel Durrell, an engineer and Louisa Francis Dixie. He was born in Jamshedpur, Bengal, British India and was of Anglo-Irish descent. [1]
In 1928, the family moved to Upper Norwood, London, England. His father died shortly afterwards, and his widow took the children and moved to Corfu in 1935 to join Gerald's brother, Lawrence (Larry).
Gerald was home-schooled by several tutors, including Theodore Stephanides, who became a family friend. [2] He moved back to England at the beginning of World War II and was 'called up' in 1943, but was exempted on medical grounds. He began work at Whipsnade Zoo, then left three years later to join wildlife expeditions in Cameroon and British Guiana.
He married in 1951, and at first lived in his sister Margo's boarding house in Bournemouth, Dorset, England. When he returned from one of his expeditions, he had to keep the animals in Margo's garden and garage.
Gerald founded the Jersey Zoo (Channel Islands) in 1959 in a 17th century manor house and grounds. This was followed in 1963 by the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and in 1971 the Wildlife Preservation Trust International in the United States. In 1972 the World Conference on Breeding Endangered Species in Captivity as an Aid to their Survival was started by the Fauna and Flora Preservation Society, with its patron as Princess Anne. He was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1982. [3]
Gerald Durrell had several health issues, including arthritis and liver problems. He died of septicaemia aged 70 on 30th of January 1995 in the General Hospital, Jersey, Channel Islands. His ashes are buried in the grounds of Jersey Zoo. [4]
For complete bibliography, please see freespace page
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Featured Eurovision connections: Gerald is 47 degrees from Agnetha Fältskog, 37 degrees from Anni-Frid Synni Reuß, 41 degrees from Corry Brokken, 35 degrees from Céline Dion, 37 degrees from Françoise Dorin, 40 degrees from France Gall, 42 degrees from Lulu Kennedy-Cairns, 41 degrees from Lill-Babs Svensson, 33 degrees from Olivia Newton-John, 41 degrees from Henriette Nanette Paërl, 47 degrees from Annie Schmidt and 31 degrees from Moira Kennedy on our single family tree. Login to see how you relate to 33 million family members.
D > Durrell > Gerald Malcolm Durrell OBE
Categories: Mamfé, South-West Region | The Durrells of Corfu | English Authors | Officers of the Order of the British Empire | Jersey Zoological Park Grounds, Trinity, Jersey | Featured Connections Archive 2021 | Notables
We plan on featuring Gerald alongside Steve Irwin, this week's Example Profile of the Week in the Connection Finder on March 3rd. Between now and then is a good time to take a look at the sources and biography to see if there are updates and improvements that need made, especially those that will bring it up to WikiTree Style Guide standards. We know it's short notice, so don't fret too much. Just do what you can. A Team member will check on the profile Tuesday and make changes as necessary.
Thanks! Abby