Barn owl that caused a flap at wedding is ‘sacked’ by venue
AN OWL that disrupted a wedding service by landing on the best man’s head has been “sacked” for misbehaviour.
Bobby the barn owl made headlines in March after causing mayhem at Peckforton Castle, Cheshire.
The venue, which charged £250 for use of “trained owls”, yesterday confirmed that Bobby was no longer being used to fly rings to couples.
A second video emerged yesterday, showing that the owl had previous form for unauthorised airborne antics involving wedding guests.
A clip shot at the same venue in November 2016 shows it attempt to deliver the rings but end up perched on the head of a bemused best man.
A spokesman for the castle said: “Unfortunately we are not giving any comment on any owl activity at the weddings. The external company that we used, we are no longer using as the handler had a bit of backlash from the past coverage.”
Peckforton Castle’s website no longer features the section which once advertised the owl’s services. After reading about its antics in March, Steph Revill from Halifax, West Yorks, revealed the barn owl improvised at her wedding too.
A video shows Steph and her husband-to-be, Joe, waiting at the bottom of the aisle, anxiously expecting their airborne ring delivery.
Their best man can be seen with his arm stretched out, waiting for the owl to land, and the bird can be heard screeching as it enters the room.
After the owl refuses to fly, the handler begins walking down the aisle before the bird makes its flight.
The wedding party clap with delight but as Joe tries to take hold of the rings, the owl flaps away and lands on the best man’s head instead.