Europe
RIP Kevin: Peacock who became a London lockdown symbol of hope is killed by foxes
Even snowfall couldn't stop Kevin the peacock from strutting through Chingford, in east London. (Alison Wallis)
By Jennifer Hassan
Feb. 22, 2021 at 6:17 a.m. EST
LONDON Kevin the peacock, a sassy blue bird who mysteriously appeared at the beginning of lockdown last March and became a symbol of hope for locals confined to their homes, has been killed by foxes.
In a somber email sent to parents on Sunday, Chris Evans, the principal of Yardley Primary School the place Kevin chose as home for almost a year, said that their cherished mascot had been killed by a fox, or possibly several, over the weekend. His remains were found by the schools devastated janitor who had developed a close bond with the animal, often feeding him mixed seeds and fruit and generally making a fuss over him.
For the residents of Chingford, this leafy town on the edge of east London, Kevin was so much more than an animal that squawked long into the night. He was an icon and local treasure. A majestic creature who danced in their gardens
like a Spice Girl, perched on their walls and rooftops elegantly and brought comfort to those grieving the loss of loved ones to covid-19.
For the hundreds of children that attend Yardley school, Kevin was the celebrity that they searched for in the grounds each day. He was the novelty guest who once interrupted a spelling test by repeatedly banging his beak on the classroom door. ... He adopted us, Evans said of the bird last year, describing
Kevin as the pandemic peacock that landed to brighten our days.
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After losing his feathers over the summer, Kevin displayed his beautiful new tail in January. (Chris Evans)
Jennifer Hassan
Jennifer Hassan is the social media editor for the Foreign desk at The Washington Post. She is based in London. Before joining The Post in 2016, Jennifer was global community manager for the international chat app Viber. Jennifer honed her breaking news skills as the U.K. social media editor at MailOnline. Follow
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