A Very Rare Award - Ken Sims Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens Norfolk – Honorary Fellowship of Zoological Society of London

Ken Sims - photograph by Joe Blossom

Ken Sims, Director of Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens, near Great Yarmouth, has been awarded Honorary Fellowship of the Zoological Society of London .

Only 25 Honorary Fellows have been made since the Zoological Society of London was founded in 1826 by Sir Stamford Raffles. Honorary Fellows include HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (1977), HM The Emperor Akihito of Japan (1991), Sir David Attenborough (1998) and Dr Desmond Morris (2013). The fellowship is awarded to…"those who are distinguished in zoology or who have promoted the aims of the society, a limited number to be admitted"…

Ken Sims said: “To receive the Honorary Fellowship of the Zoological Society of London is very special for me. In addition to running two of the world’s finest zoos, the Society is the world leader in its work for education, research and international conservation.”

“I am grateful that I have been allowed to help support the teams of dedicated professional staff in their effort to conserve and protect wildlife wherever it is endangered. The team effort at the Zoological Society of London has paid off in that both London Zoo and Whipsnade are enjoying very strong increases in attendance and revenue, in sharp contrast to the early 1990s, when the closure of London Zoo was a real possibility.”

Ken Sims first became involved with the Zoological Society of London in the 1960s, supplying animals when he was working as rubber planter in Malaya. After returning to the UK and opening Thrigby Hall Wildlife Garden in 1979, Ken became more closely involved serving on committees and working with London and Whipsnade Zoos through the British Zoos’ Federation. He became a Trustee of the Zoological Society of London in 1994, has been Vice President three times and also chaired the London Zoo Board and the Zoos’ Advisory Committee.  Ken is a former Chairman of the British Zoos’ Federation and has represented the federation on the committee of the European Association of Zoos.

Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens is at Filby near Great Yarmouth, t. 01493 369477. The Wildlife Gardens open every day at 10am.