Churchill's Parrot Still Cursing Hitler After All These Years
Dan
2004-01-19 11:42 (New York)
Eds: Note language in second paragraph
London (dpa) - The parrot that was Winston Churchill's close
companion through the years of World War II and whom he taught to
curse Hitler and the Nazis in ripe language, is alive and swearing at
the age of 104, Britain's Daily Mirror reported Monday.
Named Charlie by Sir Winston, despite being a female, the parrot
still squawks ``Fuck Hitler'' and ``Fuck the Nazis'' to any passer-by,
39 years after the wartime leader died.
Although Charlie shocked many who visited Churchill, he was always
able to bring a smile to the prime minister's face during the darkest
years of the war.
Churchill bought Charlie in 1937 and incorporated her in his
menagerie that included lambs, pigs, cattle, swans and, at one point,
a leopard.
Swearing lessons commenced immediately.
Charlie's story is told in the new issue of Jack Magazine, which is
to go on sale Thursday. The article backs up the blue and gold macaw's
claim to be the oldest pet bird in Britain.
Peter Oram bought her for his pet shop after Churchill died in
1965. But he was forced to move her into his home after she kept
swearing at children.
For the last 12 years, she has lived at Oram's garden centre in the
southern English county of Surrey.
Sylvia Martin, who works there, said: ``If truth be told, Charlie
is looking a little scruffy but she is very popular with the public.
We are all very attached to her.'' dpa rpm sc
-0- Jan/19/2004 16:41 GMT