The Accipiter - Behind the scenes September 2005

Behind the Scenes - September 2005

Many of our readers will know Sonia Unicombe's face and jovial personality well, as she is the first member of staff most visitors to The Hawk Conservancy see when she greets them at the front entrance. However her duties extend far beyond running a busy admissions desk and gift shop....

Saturday 9 July 2005

Some of the 175 Motorcycles

It starts as any other Saturday morning in the Gift Shop; household chores done, tills primed and ready, everything in ship shape order for the day. Two birthday parties booked, party bags all prepared, two other groups booked to visit.

At about half past eleven we detect a very distant roar, like the rumble of far off thunder but the volume increases and increases and yes, the first of our groups has arrived, and arrived in a BIG way.

The Vulture Motor Cycle Club, all 175 of them, riding everything from Harleys, Trikes, Hondas and most other well known makes of bikes. It is a really amazing spectacle, with many of our day visitors going to have a closer look at two very long lines of bikes in the car park.

First ports of call are, of course, loos, then coffee - or more importantly bacon butties, just to tide them over to a barbeque lunch after the 12 noon flying display. All are busy purchasing raffle tickets for today's special raffle, three soft cuddly vultures...one 76cm, one 28cms and a tiny baby one!

At the Valley of the Eagles

The big event for the bikers and for us is the Valley of the Eagles display at 2pm in Reg's Meadow. Dave the Vultures' organiser declines the offer to call Danebury the Bald Eagle in, passing on the pleasure to Sally who, having borrowed one of Ashley's staff polo shirts so that nothing appears unusual to Danebury, looks amazing with him on her fist.

So on to the next important item on today's agenda, drawing the raffle, to much cheering and ribald comments. The winner is John, one of the members on the organizing committee.

They didn't go quietly!
Click on the image for video (1MB)

With military precision, the group's departure is as well organized as their arrival, with John heading the procession, to leave the park in a cloud of dust and a continual roar of engines again.

And that is the end of another successful day, which to my mind proves that we have the ability to entertain many, many more bike clubs, classic car clubs, and vintage commercial vehicles in the future.

POSTSCRIPT

I still have the large vulture here in my care; John did not ride home with it as his pillion for safety reasons and is arranging to call and collect him this week. Meanwhile I am ensuring that it gets all the tlc it requires, including 4 hourly feeds!

I am pleased to report that the raffle made £103.00 which will be used by The Hawk Conservancy Trust to purchase a GPS Navigation System. This will enable research students to monitor the young Tawny Owls during the release project.

Click here for previous Behind the Scenes articles