Seymour Hotels Centenary Magazine SPREADS - Flipbook - Page 64
Meet Our
Gentle Giant
Jambo
The True Sign of Loyalty?
Matching Bathrooms!
Hailing from Inverness, Alistair Neilson and his wife Janice first came
to Jersey in 1992 on the recommendation of colleagues and friends.
Ever since, the pair have holidayed here on average four times a year.
They’ve clocked up an impressive 110 visits to our gorgeous island.
T
he Neilson's home-from-home of choice? Of course,
it’s with the Seymour group. In the summer months,
the Merton Hotel becomes their base to explore the
beaches and town and enjoy our leisure facilities whilst the
sun is shining. In autumn, they settle in for country walks,
great food and log fires at the Greenhills Country House
Hotel. Four generations of the family have been treated to a
Seymour Hotels visit, from their parents to their children and
grandchildren.
For the Neilsons, every trip is a treat as they meet friends
(many are past Seymour Hotels staff), taste the excellent food,
explore gorgeous scenery and enjoy the wonderful service
that has come to define their Island breaks. “The personal and
friendly touch is what makes all the difference. It’s lovely and
staying here is an unmatchable experience!” says Janice.
“On a recent visit we parked at the top of the car park and
two gardeners who were just finishing their shift dropped
everything to came and help us with our bags,” explains
Alistair. It seems no task is too small for the Seymour Hotels
staff to ensure they are providing the most memorable
and positive experience for guests. The Neilsons visit so
frequently, they have a suitcase of toiletries and other
essentials permanently based at the hotel which the staff are
more than happy to look after. When they return, the suitcase
is ready in their regular room, alongside a bottle of champagne
and a box of chocolates to ensure a warm welcome.
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The pair could now be considered honorary locals! As
Managing Director David Seymour fondly comments: “we
count you as one of us.” The love the pair share for the Island
and the hotel group is evident. Janice proudly wears her
Jersey Bean necklace from Aurum. Heavily involved in the
Rotary Club, regularly helping out with their local events and
fundraising activities, many confuse the pair for locals.
But the true reflection of their loyalty to the Seymour
Group? The Neilsons have modelled their bathroom back
home on the one in their favourite hotel bedroom at the
Greenhills! Arriving for their regular visit as the recent
bedroom and bathroom refurbishment was concluding, they
fell in love – the bathroom was exactly what they had been
looking for. They strolled over to the maintenance team and
asked for all the details. The team kindly leant Alistair the
tape measure so he could take notes.
But why do they keep coming back for more, year on year?
Alistair sums it up easily. “It’s such great value for money
and you don’t need your passport or to change currency. You
simply get on the plane and go. You’ve got the familiarity of
England and Scotland, yet it’s a proper holiday and we always
discover something new to enjoy and explore. We would
never change hotels now. With Seymour Hotels, you are not
just a room number. You are part of the family!”
On 31 August 1986 Levan Merrit fell into the gorilla enclosure at
Jersey Zoo. As onlookers watched on in horror, they witnessed an
incredible scene unfold. Jambo the silverback gorilla stood guard
over the five-year-old boy, gently stroking Levan’s back and keeping
the other gorillas away until he could be lifted to safety by paramedic
Brian Fox.
T
his dramatic scene held great power as it transformed the common
belief that gorillas are unconditionally dangerous. Instantly, Jambo
was catapulted into everyone’s hearts. Even today, the story of Jambo
is well-known and often retold. A trip to Jersey Zoo isn’t complete without a
visit to Jambo’s statue for a photo. Unveiled in 1992, following Jambo’s death,
Levan returned to the Island to cut the ribbon and honour his friend. Worldfamous author, naturalist and founder of Jersey Zoo Gerald Durrell described
Jambo as “a magnificent individual, courteous and gentle.”
And in the gardens of the Merton Hotel, a special statue of Jambo by artist
David Cemmick can be found. The Seymour Hotels Group purchased the
sculpture of Jambo in October 2010 at auction and he has watched over the
Merton Hotel’s gardens ever since. The addition of this gentle giant was to
commemorate the opening of the Merton Suites and to honour and support
the Seymour family’s long and close relationship with the Durrell Wildlife
Conservation Trust.
Founded in Jersey by Gerald Durrell in 1959, the Trust has gained a
worldwide reputation for its pioneering conservation techniques and has
made a significant difference to many endangered species worldwide. Their
work inspired the names behind the Merton Suites: Dodo, Durrell, Jambo and
Trinity, celebrating the fantastic work of the Jersey Zoo and Durrell Wildlife
Conservation Trust teams as they carry on Gerald’s legacy.
Jersey Zoo is the perfect outing for any animal lover and a wonderful
adventure for the family. Discover Gerald Durrell’s legacy and learn how you
can help to rewild our world as you wander through the grounds enjoying the
array of mammals, amphibians, birds and reptiles.
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