Leapy Lee - chart topping singer of the 1960s and 70s

Every week I write and article for the Euro Weekly News, an English-speaking newspaper covering all the major resorts of Spain and the Balearics. You can pick up a copy on a Thursday ... or read it here every week.

Thursday 7 September 2006

Steve was a firm favourite

I AM sure you were as shocked as I was to read of the untimely death of Steve Irwin. Since he first appeared on our TV screens some years ago, I have always been an ardent fan. He was, of course, a total nutter, but his sheer exuberance and zest for life coupled with his obvious love of the wild, made him a firm favourite in our house, as he surely was in millions of others.

Was it not ironical that, with all the highly dangerous risks he took, he should be killed in a freak attack that has only happened two or three times in Australian history. I imagine the furthest thing from his mind, as he swam above that magnificent stingray, was that it would strike as it did, which just goes to show that when you are dealing with fierce creatures you have to be totally on your guard.

Many years ago I was managed by Gordon Mills, who was a multi-millionaire thanks to his discoveries of Tom Jones and Englebert Humperdink. He had been touring with Tom somewhere in the north of England when he chanced on a young gorilla in a travelling zoo. The poor thing had been so mistreated, including losing an eye, that Gordon bought it on the spot and took it home. In his garden he built a magnificent cage for Ollie, as he named him.

The cage was a grand affair which consisted of a large covered area connected by a tunnel to an equally large outside area where Ollie could play with his toys.

For some time it became great fun to have a few high jinks with the young animal, including the odd wrestling match, which was also enjoyed by the gamekeeper that Gordon had employed to help out.

So tame was the animal (or so it appeared), the fact that it was by now fast approaching adulthood and becoming quite a large beast totally escaped the usually astute reasoning of Gordon, and the wrestling matches continued on an almost daily basis.

One day both he and the gamekeeper were indulging in yet another match, when Gordon, deciding he had had enough, broke off his own particular engagement with the animal. This left the gamekeeper who, himself beginning to tire, also tried to break away - but one-eyed Ollie had other ideas.

Sensing victory, he kept his hold and the 'fun' match suddenly became a whole different ball game.With his instincts now totally aroused, Ollie began to fight in real earnest, and the strength of a young gorilla is an awesome power indeed.

To cut a long one short, in the end he was lifting the now screaming man above his head and smashing him on to the floor while inflicting not a few large bites en route. With the man quickly losing conciousness, Gordon realised he had to do something, and do it quickly.

Rushing outside the cage, he grabbed a large shovel. Re-entering, he drew back and, with all his strength, smashed the flat of it squarely in the face of young Ollie. The gorilla blinked his one eye and, releasing the gamekeeper, took a step backwards. The bleeding and battered gamekeeper began to crawl towards the cage door- but he wasn´t quite quick enough.

With a roar, Ollie lunged forwards yet again. Grabbing the man's shirt with a large black hand, he gave an almighty wrench, and literally tore the garment from his back. It was enough.

Probably thinking he had skinned the man, he waved it above his head in triumph and rushed back through the tunnel to the outside area where he continued his victory dance, allowing the two men to escape through the inside cage gates.

The gamekeeper was in hospital for a month with multiple injuries needing about 200 stitches. Needless to say, the days of wrestling with Ollie were over.

So, ya see, you've gotta be careful out there.

Mind you, Gordon had a large mirror at the entrance with bars painted on it and the inscription: 'The most dangerous animal in the world'.

Nuff said.

Till the demise of the next seven, hang in, hang on, but, whatever ya do, always keep the faith Love, Leapy.

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