Born Free celebrates 35th birthday in Tyne & Wear

Will Travers OBE, President and co-founder of Born Free, is coming to Tyne & Wear on Wednesday 19th June to host a unique ‘evening with’ event in celebration of the charity’s 35th anniversary.

Will Travers OBE, President and co-founder of the internationally-renowned wildlife charity Born Free, is coming to Tyne & Wear on Wednesday 19th June to host a unique ‘evening with’ event in celebration of the charity’s 35th anniversary.

Taking place at the iconic Sage Gateshead in St.Mary’s Square, the evening is an opportunity for the public to meet with Mr Travers, and actively discuss how to apply the charity’s compassionate conservation agenda to some of the most important issues facing wild animals today.

This is the first time Mr Travers - son of Born Free’s legendary actors and co-founders Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers - has embarked on a UK regional tour but feels that the timing could not be more appropriate, with the spotlight on animal conservation being shone now more than ever. He is especially delighted that this event is taking place in Tyne & Wear as the Travers family has strong links to the area. Both his grandfather and father were brought up in Newcastle and his grandfather is buried at Jesmond Old Cemetery - a place both Will and Virginia regularly visit to pay their respects.

The event, ‘In Conservation about Compassionate Conservation’, will start at 7.30pm. Mr Travers will discuss several topics from trophy hunting, illegal wildlife trade, animal welfare, the influence of social media on conservation and, of course, talk about Born Free’s various global field and community projects.

The evening is also designed to provide a platform for attendees to openly voice their opinions and discuss how charities like Born Free can actively work alongside the public to make a real difference to wild animal care and conservation around the world. With this in mind, guests are encouraged to speak freely with Mr Travers and bring along any questions they