ADVENTUROUS TRIP

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31187, 11 October 1966, Page 16

ADVENTUROUS TRIP

Eleven ducklings, probably hatched from a nest in a tree at the rear of the Supreme Court, had an adventurous trip to the Avon river about 3.30 p.m. yesterday. The ducklings were noticed in the enclosed garden behind the Court when the staff was at afternoon tea. The Supreme Court registrar (Mr J. L. W. Gerken) and the Crown Prosecutor (Mr C. M. Roper) took a few minutes from tea to guide the duck and her brood through a side gate into the quiet Chester street, beside the Salvation Army citadel. The duck waddled down the middle of the road, with her ducklings clustered behind. The party was prevented from reaching the river by the stone walls at the foot of the street, behind the floral clock. At one stage, the duck flapped on to and over the 2ft stone wall, calling to her ducklings to follow—but they were unable to do so.

A reporter of “The Press” ushered the duck back to her brood, got them out of Chester street (opposite the front of the Salvation Army citadel) into Victoria street. As the ducklings were scampering down the side of Victoria street, along the covered guttering three plumped

through a grating into the drain. A heap of dirt in one corner enabled them to scramble out again. Confronted by passers-by, the duck then slipped under the wire fence in front of the floral clock, crossed the plot, and reached the lawns in front of the Supreme Court, where Mr Roper guided her and her ducklings to the river.