Weather
Farewell to Edwina the duck, 22 (From Bournemouth Echo)
When news happens text pix and video to 80360. Start your message with BE then leave a space.
Get social with the Echo - click to find out how and where!
Farewell to Edwina the duck, 22
8:00am Wednesday 30th December 2009
One of Britain’s oldest ducks on record has died at the grand old age of 22.
Much-loved mallard Edwina passed away in her pen on Monday, leaving her owners devastated.
Christine Christopher and Ian Knight from Ringwood rescued Edwina when she was just a tiny duckling after finding her abandoned in a lake near their Poulner home.
They took the new addition to their family under their wing, calling her Edward until she started laying eggs.
After nursing Edwina back to health, Mr Knight tried to release her into the wild but she followed him back home and had been living with the family ever since.
In July this year Edwina shot to fame following her 22nd birthday. The British Trust for Ornithology claimed she was the oldest known wild mallard in the UK.
Fighting back tears yesterday, Mr Knight told the Daily Echo how he had found Edwina dead in her run on Monday.
He said: “She hadn’t been well over Christmas.
“Her legs were a bit wobbly and we were concerned that she wasn’t her normal self.
“We had been planning to take her to the vet’s when we discovered that she had passed away.
“It might sound silly to some people but 22 years is a long time to have a pet and we are heartbroken to have lost Edwina.”
He added: “She had become a bit of a celebrity and, after we appeared on television on her 22nd birthday, someone recognised me at Palma airport in Majorca.”
More News stories
- Brutal sex attack in Bournemouth gardens
- Updated: Eleven arrested after raid on New Forest nursing home
- Poole hospital warned over its financial woes
- Nurses' anger as hospital boss gets paid £2,557 a day
- Thousands descend on Lulworth for Camp Bestival
- Road rage as travellers move into nursery field
- Asbos ‘not working’ residents tell Echo
- Win chance to become Daily Echo newshound for the day
- Swanage railway reconnection scheme set to go ahead
- Battle to save Southbourne beach cafe lost
Your Say YourEcho
sashabubble, Bournemouth says...
1:04am Thu 31 Dec 09
Have a bit of compassion.
The Witch, Christchurch says...
7:03am Thu 31 Dec 09
My sympathies are with you Christine and Ian, treasure your memories of Edwina.
Laurie H Marsh, brisbane says...
10:57am Thu 31 Dec 09
sashabubble wrote:I have all the compassion in the world for the loss of a person but a duck?
geeze, thats a bit harsh, Laurie. Have a bit of compassion.
I was raised on a farm. Have you any idea of the no. of fowl that I have "sent to a better place" (e,g. someones cooking pot)?
Laurie H Marsh, brisbane says...
11:27am Thu 31 Dec 09
The Witch wrote:You prefer animals to human beings?
Any pets death is heartbreaking to their owners. Especially, if like me you prefer animals to the vast majority of the human race! My sympathies are with you Christine and Ian, treasure your memories of Edwina.
Any sympathy going around needs to be aimed in your direction.
How pathetic is that?
I wish you well, you sure as hell need it!
sashabubble, Bournemouth says...
12:38pm Thu 31 Dec 09
I was raised on a farm. Have you any idea of the no. of fowl that I have "sent to a better place" (e,g. someones cooking pot)?
Blimey, Laurie - the Season of Good Will is a bit lost on you!
by the way, a pet duck is a bit different to one being raised on a farm
Sending you lots of love for 2010, you sure sound like you need it.
Laurie H Marsh, brisbane says...
1:37pm Thu 31 Dec 09
sashabubble wrote:Uh.
I have all the compassion in the world for the loss of a person but a duck? I was raised on a farm. Have you any idea of the no. of fowl that I have "sent to a better place" (e,g. someones cooking pot)? Blimey, Laurie - the Season of Good Will is a bit lost on you! by the way, a pet duck is a bit different to one being raised on a farm Sending you lots of love for 2010, you sure sound like you need it.
You have obviously never lived on a farm.
All of those lovely, cuddly things grow up to be someones dinner!
You just cant afford to get too close!
There are only so many tears that can be shed!
My tears are saved for the members of my family, for my friends and for the PEOPLE who need solace.
Thank you for trying to "set me straight" but if you are as close to your family as I am to mine you are a very lucky person!
Happy New Year!
P.S.
Instead of copying all that stuff out just hit "quote".
Have a good life, you sound like you are o.k. (don't buy a pet duck, they die)!
EDWINA: She was one of the oldest ducks in UK
Local Advertisers
Local Information
Enter your postcode, town or place name
Laurie H Marsh, brisbane says...
10:24pm Wed 30 Dec 09
Oh well, buy some eggs and start again!
It is a bit difficult to empathise with Mr. Knight over the loss of a duck.
If he is that fragile maybe his next pet should be a pet rock, they last forever!
R.I.P.