Peacock called ‘Kevin’ who roamed grounds of north east London primary school and became a lockdown symbol of hope during pandemic is killed by foxes
- Kevin the peacock was regular in grounds of Yardley Primary School, Chingford
- Students and parents said colourful bird gave them respite from the pandemic
- School janitor discovered Kevin’s body after he was killed by foxes
A sassy peacock who became a local celebrity for east London schoolchildren after appearing at the start of the pandemic has been killed by foxes.
The colourful bird, given the name Kevin, became a symbol of hope during the dark days of the second wave of coronavirus when he turned up at Yardley Primary School in Chingford.
For students he was a novelty guest who once interrupted a spelling test by repeatedly banging his beak on the classroom door.
But in an email to parents, headteacher Chris Evans revealed the sombre news that the school’s ‘adopted’ mascot had been killed by foxes during the weekend.
A sassy peacock who became a local celebrity for east London schoolchildren after appearing at the start of the pandemic has been killed by foxes
His remains were found by the school’s janitor who had developed a close bond with the animal, often feeding him mixed seeds and fruit and generally making a fuss over him.
The caretaker said that Kevin had appeared rattled late Saturday evening and eventually settled down to sleep in a tree in the playground, although the branch was noticeably lower than his usual resting place.
As the news spread, devastated parents were left with the task of explaining to their children that Kevin would not be there to greet them at school when they returned.
In an email to parents, Chingford’s Yardley Primary School headteacher Chris Evans revealed the sombre news that the school’s ‘adopted’ mascot Kevin had been killed by foxes during the weekend
‘When we heard the bad news, we dreaded telling the kids as we knew they would be upset,’ Rob and Zoe Warner told the Telegraph. Their children Mia, 4, and Leo, 8, attend the school.
‘He adopted us,’ Mr Evans said of Kevin last year, calling him the ‘pandemic peacock’ that landed to ‘brighten our days’.
There had been concern that Kevin might not have been able to survive a colder than usual winter after he lost his feathers at the end of the mating season.
There had been concern that Kevin might not have been able to survive a colder than usual winter after he lost his feathers at the end of the mating season
But residents said they were deeply saddened that his death actually came from an attack by foxes known to be in the area.
‘Some staff are taking the philosophical view that he came to the school when we most needed him and his work here is now done,’ Evans said.
But as some in the community paid tribute to animal, others claimed he had not actually died.
‘That’s not Kevin,’ wrote one user.
The school has since responded confirming that another peacock has in fact appeared in the town, and is now known as ‘Not Kevin’.