WATCH: Grouville says goodbye to Henry Percy the peacock

Sunday 07 January 2024

Around 40 parishioners gathered together on Saturday for the funeral of Grouville's parish bird, Henry Percy the peacock, who died in a hit-and-run during the Christmas break.

Henry Percy was buried using a purpose-built coffin in a patch of grass outside the Parish Hall.

Constable Mark Labey reminisced about "the Grouville Parish Hall mascot" who he said loved blueberries, bananas, grapes, raisins and peanuts.

Parishioners including children left flowers and some of Henry's feathers on the coffin.

Blueberry muffins were served in honour of Henry's particular fondness for the sweet treat.

Watch: One parishioner's video shows Henry's colourful feathers – and how he did not shy away from humans offering food. (Spencer Langlois)

Henry was believed to be around 15 or 16 years old when he was hit by a car during the Christmas break.

He was found propped up by the side of the road by the Honorary Police, who Constable Labey thanked for their help.

Constable Labey said Henry had had a habit of running alongside the road and sometimes walking into it, adding that the peacock clearly hadn't read the Highway Code.

He said that the peacock is, in his opinion, one of the most beautiful animals that God has created as well as a marvel of evolution.

Henry Percy was "a beautiful, beautiful bird", the Constable added.

Constable Labey finished his speech by asking everyone present to make their best peacock sound, a loud "leon", as a final send-off – which attendees gladly took part in.

Parishioners later spoke about Henry Percy's colourful feathers, which had brought them joy when they were going through a tough time.

Pictured: Henry Percy the peacock outside the parish hall. (Grouville Parish Hall)

Wendy Durell, who was the closest thing Henry Percy had to an owner – as peacocks are wild animals that cannot be held as pets – said her father Martin had first named him.

"My dad was proud of him and hand-fed him," she said.

She described Henry Percy as "quite regal, the way he walked about the place".

Wendy explained: "He had different sounds: you had that screech, and you had a booming call, which was rather lovely to hear.

"And if he saw me about and wanted feeding, or he wanted my attention, he would do a little, gentler call, and he'd be there. It was so touching.

"If I got there too late and he'd got fed up, I would rattle the peanuts and he would come running, and that was sweet to see.

"It was nice to experience the rhythm of the seasons with him because by Easter, he'd have all his feathers, and then he would lose them by August."

Wendy remembered that children living nearby would feed Henry Percy before going to school, and she herself fed him blueberries from her breakfast and peanuts before he went to roost for the night.

"People liked to see him," she added.

Pictured - top: Around 40 people attended Henry Percy Peacock's burial (Dave Ferguson)