Meerkat Funday at London Zoo - 26 September 2001
Celebrities will be launching ‘Meerkat Funday’ at London Zoo on Sunday 30 September. They will be joined at the meerkat enclosure by pupils from Carlton Vale Infants School in Kilburn, some of the youngest members of a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme.Neighbourhood Watch in London is sponsored by Yellow Pages and supported by the Metropolitan Police. This Funday celebrates the association of Neighbourhood Watch with London Zoo’s colony of meerkats. The community minded instinct of the meerkat makes it an appropriate symbol of Neighbourhood Watch in London.
With the meerkats as the focal point for the event, Yellow Pages, in conjunction with London Zoo, have organised various activities throughout the day, including a meerkat trail to the enclosure, special meerkat talks by the zookeeper, meerkat face-painting and a toy meerkat naming competition.
Celebrities, such as Wendy Richard, Chris Tarrant and Ken Livingstone, have already named toy meerkats. The Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir John Stevens, has also taken part and named his meerkat ‘Bobby’. He said: “I hope everyone enjoys themselves at the Meerkat Funday, while remembering the real impact that local partnerships like Neighbourhood Watch can have in making all of London’s diverse communities safer.”
Meerkat Funday is welcomed by the Home Secretary, The Rt Hon David Blunkett MP, who sent the following words of support: “Neighbourhood Watch schemes look out for the safety of other members of the community. That community support is vital to ensure that people feel safe and are able to play their part in reducing crime. There is clear evidence that individual schemes have brought about significant reductions in certain types of crime.
“I am therefore delighted that Yellow Pages has got together with Neighbourhood Watch to promote the meerkat logo and raise the public’s awareness of Neighbourhood Watch schemes. I wish your ‘Funday’ every success.”
Anyone wishing to find out about Neighbourhood Watch in their area, should contact their local police.
