Coventry Zoo and The Zulu

Similar to my earlier one but probably from the same Telegraph shoot (and more of the flyover build) -

Who remembers the dolphin at the zoo? - short video clip. There's also some film of the Zulu here.

Link to Coventry telegraph article (17/10/2020) about the Coventry Zoo and Zulu.

The Zulu has resurfaced again! Chap called Tony Pedley on FB has bought it (it's being covered by CWR at the moment) - Whilst looking there is also a snippet of video here.

It was lowered into place outside Coventry Zoo on 18 March 1970.

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

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

Hi Mick and Thank you <3 Yes! Freddie Barnes wrestled under the name Prince Barnu. Even wrestled the boxer Randolph Turpin!!! (wrestlingdata.com)

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.

Hi All, Went to the 888 Emporium on the Foleshil Road (888emporium.org) earlier this month and saw the Coventry Zoo's Zulu face and spear. Felt like a pilgrimage Really great shop too Had my photo with it (and made donation to Myton as asked on the original news article). Big thanks to Tony Pedley for saving this great bit of Coventry history! As you can see the interior of the spear shows how thin the fibreglass is and to be honest it's amazing it's survived this long. In the words of the General in the Bean Movie "Welcome Home Ma!"

Hi All, Rob has very kindly put my short article about the Coventry Zulu onto the members' articles section. If you'd be to have a look it's available here What ever happened to the Zulu Statue of Coventry Zoo? Thanks ❤️

A great tale and written with much affection towards the chap and those who preserved and preserve him I particularly like the idea he spent time living it up at college digs.