Forums The Vibe Chat UK : Midlands : parrot on house arrest for swearing at old bill, clergy & mayor… Re: UK : Midlands : parrot on house arrest for swearing at old bill, clergy & mayor…

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    [font=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]What did the foul-mouthed parrot say to the vicar… and to the mayor?[/font][font=Geneva,Arial,sans-serif]Martin Wainwright
    [/font][font=Geneva,Arial,sans-serif]Wednesday July 27, 2005
    [/font][font=Geneva,Arial,sans-serif]Guardian

    [/font][font=Geneva,Arial,sans-serif]A parrot with a remarkably coherent line in invective has been given a private pen at a wildlife sanctuary, after swearing repeatedly at distinguished visitors including a mayor, a vicar and two police officers. [/font][font=Geneva,Arial,sans-serif]Barney the five-year-old Macaw can now be seen only on special request, like the British Library’s collection of erotic books, in case he rounds on potential donors or gives a dreadful example to visiting children. [/font]

    [font=Geneva,Arial,sans-serif]Trained by a previous owner who had a dislike of authority, he initially appeared to be a potential draw at the Warwickshire Animal Sanctuary, Nuneaton, because of his vivid blue and gold plumage and habit of saying “Thank you, big boy,” when given a digestive biscuit. [/font]

    [font=Geneva,Arial,sans-serif]But his other side was revealed when a civic party came on a tour of the sanctuary and Barney spotted the mayor’s chain and a woman vicar’s dog collar. [/font]

    [font=Geneva,Arial,sans-serif]Instead of the Benedicite (“Oh all ye fowls of the air, bless ye the Lord”), he told the mayor: “Fuck off,” before turning to the vicar and saying: “You can fuck off too.” [/font]

    [font=Geneva,Arial,sans-serif]The sanctuary’s owner, Geoff Grewcock, 55, said yesterday: “To their credit they didn’t take offence and laughed it off – and luckily so did two policemen who were told: “And you can fuck off, you wankers.” [/font]

    [font=Geneva,Arial,sans-serif]The parrot is thought to have kept up its skills, since its owner – a retired truck driver – emigrated to Spain three years ago, by watching TV after the 9pm watershed. [/font]

    [font=Geneva,Arial,sans-serif]Mr Grewcock is now attempting a cultural reversal by keeping Barney alone in a special cage listening to Radio 4. [/font]

    [font=Geneva,Arial,sans-serif]“At night he likes to come and sit on my shoulder and watch documentaries and the news as well,” he said, “so hopefully his vocabulary should become cleaner. [/font]

    [font=Geneva,Arial,sans-serif]“It isn’t really working yet but he is a very funny parrot, with a lot of character, and he does say thank you whenever you give him a treat.” [/font]

    [font=Geneva,Arial,sans-serif]Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2005[/font]