Dr. Ian Player’s 80th Birthday Celebration

On Friday 9^th March the Wilderness Foundation UK hosted an 80^th Birthday celebration dinner for our co-founder Dr. Ian Player. The venue was the Cavalry and Guards Club on Piccadilly and the 100 seats available sold out very quickly. Sir Humphry Wakefield performed the duties of master of ceremony with great aplomb.

Guests came from as far away as Norway, Germany and South Africa and were entertained with an evocative slide show of African wildlife, a charming marionette show depicting the relationship between Ian Player and his Zulu mentor Magqubu Ntombela. Many of Ian Player’s friends and admirers also contributed towards the enjoyment of the occasion with poetry and tales of their wilderness experiences with Ian and the profound affect this had on their lives. Ian thoroughly enjoyed the evening and would like to thank all those who came along making his 80^th Birthday such a memorable occasion.

A big thanks also, from the Wilderness Foundation UK, to the staff at the Cavalry and Guards Club and all those who contributed towards this special celebration.