04 Aug Pets’ Corner 50th anniversary celebrations a huge success
Over 5,000 people came to celebrate Pets’ Corner’s half-century on Sunday 31 July 2016.
The event was hosted by Pets’ Corner staff and volunteers, supported by the Friends of Pets’ Corner, and featured: a selection of stalls; tractor trailer rides; birds of prey; shire horses; bee displays; bat displays; a coconut shy; tin can alley; face painting; teacup rides; trampolines; crazy golf and a bucking sheep ride.
The event was officially opened at midday with a speech from the Chair of Harlow Council, Councillor Edna Stevens. There followed an animal parade, performances from Makin’ Steps Dance School and Harlow Rock School, dog and duck shows, dog agility shows, a ukulele band and the Celebration Duo Singers.
Councillor Stevens said: “The Idea of Pets’ Corner came originally from a former headmaster of Broadfield Junior School, Mr G Tarry. Harlow Urban Council considered the idea in 1962 and gave the go-ahead to build Pets’ Corner in November 1964. It opened with two staff – Mrs Margaret Rose and the Manager, Mr Rodney Wood. Rodney Wood managed Pets’ Corner for 26 years until 1992 when he handed the reins over to Justin Hopwood who still is the current manager.
“Pets’ Corner has been a big part of many people lives, growing up with this wonderful facility, people visited as children are now visiting with their grandchildren.
“Pets’ Corner is an important part of our community working with many local academies running various education programmes.”
The day also featured a memory walk with a selection of photos and banners showing significant events in Pets’ Corner’s 50-year history, and an art workshop where visitors contributed to making an animal display to celebrate the anniversary.
Pets’ Corner has always been run by Harlow Council supported by volunteers and more recently the Friends of Pets’ Corner.
Commenting on the day, Councillor Jon Clempner, Leader of Harlow Council, said: “People love Pets’ Corner and it was great to see so many people visiting on Sunday to officially mark its 50th anniversary. It’s a place which holds so many happy memories for generations of families and has been a home to hundreds of animals over the years; animals which have become people’s pets and friends.
“Pets’ Corner has had an eventful history leading to its major refurbishment last year and it’s a credit to the community, Council staff and volunteers that it is still going strong today.”
Pets’ Corner first opened on 17 May 1966. The facility re-opened in October 2015 following a nine-month refurbishment as part of the £2.8m Town Park regeneration project, which was part-funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the BIG Lottery Fund.
