How It Started

It all started with a small boy at a train station in Hong Kong.

Tiny’s Story 52 YEARS ON:-

 

From the age of 4, I have always been fascinated with animals and birds all kinds whether they be large or small, poisonous or not.

 

I remember my first encounter with a small bird, it was not until many years later I learnt which species it was, a Cross Bill. On the platform of a train station in Hong Kong ready to catch a train for all the connections going to Cyprus. I remember the train pulling in, my father grabbed my hand and walked fast to the train door, I had to run to keep up. I felt something under my foot, looking down to see what it was I was shocked to find it was a baby bird that had just left the nest, not even old enough to fly yet. I tried to tell my dad, but by then I was whisked up in his arms and boarding the train with my mom and 3 sisters. I tried again to tell them what I had done, my dad listened and said there was nothing we can do for it now, maybe someone else would help it. I never knew if anyone ever did, I have said sorry to that little bird all my life. All the way to the hotel were we stayed before we went on the ship Called the (Navassa) on Board my Dad got me a sooty glove puppet to cheer me up but I cried silently for that little fellow all the way to Cyprus.

In Cyprus we lived next to a valley were I would watch a shepherd tend his sheep and Goats. After a year or so I became friends with the shepherd, he would explain to me all about his animals and how they made cheese from the milk. He would show me the different types of lizards and snakes telling apart the poisonous ones and non poisonous. When I left school I worked in a Factory for a few months,

Then in a super market for a few more months, still interested in Birds

Learning as much as I could, the Day came I joined  the Navy.

Went all over the world, Saw a million things, did a billion things, But I still could not forget a little bird after all those years,

years came, years went, I kept thinking of that Bird it hurt me, still I say sorry,

So for that little Bird I have dedicated my whole life to my feathered friends and to those children who wish to learn about them

That is how it all started, in 1957, when I was aged 4. The rest is history. I am still saying sorry to that little cross bill all these years later.