by Simon Cowell
David as ‘sibling’ ref1
David’s death ref1
divorce ref1, ref2, ref3
drama ref1
drinking ref1
driving for pleasure ref1
driving test ref1
early life ref1, ref2, ref3
earnings ref1, ref2, ref3
eating meat ref1
education ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7
emotional expression ref1, ref2
entertaining clients ref1
environmentalism ref1
exam results ref1
executive burnout ref1
expense account ref1
extramarital affair ref1, ref2, ref3
fan recognition ref1
farming ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
first car ref1, ref2, ref3
flight training ref1, ref2
Florida trip ref1
48th birthday ref1
gambling ref1, ref2
girlfriends ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8
go-to advice ref1
guilt ref1
ill-health ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6
inspirations ref1, ref2
‘London life’ ends ref1, ref2
love of animals ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
love of food ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6
marriage ref1
MBE ref1
mechanic’s garage ref1
Mexico ref1
motivation ref1
motor sports ref1
motor vehicles ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8
music ref1, ref2
naïveté ref1
19th birthday ref1, ref2
parents’ support ref1, ref2, ref3
personal slogan ref1
physical pursuits ref1
public recognition ref1, ref2
religion ref1
rescue releases ref1
rescue-techniques teaching ref1
river boat ref1
RSPCA Certificate of Commendation ref1
safari ref1
school choirs ref1
school holidays ref1
schoolfriends ref1
scrumpy incident ref1, ref2
scuba diving ref1, ref2
seagull experience ref1
17th birthday ref1
shark cages ref1, ref2
shooting ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
singing ref1, ref2
smoking ref1
social life ref1, ref2, ref3
South Africa trip ref1, ref2
stutter ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
Sutton property ref1
swimming ref1
swimming pool ref1
Thailand trip ref1, ref2
tractor incident ref1
TV presenter ref1 (see also Wildlife SOS)
TV viewing ref1
Twitter account ref1
video production ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7
Vietnam trip ref1, ref2
warped priorities ref1, ref2, ref3
wildlife rescue ref1
woodwork ref1
work experience ref1
writing ref1
Cowell, Simon (the other one) ref1, ref2
Craven, Beverley ref1
crocodiles ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
American ref1
Morelet’s ref1
saltwater ref1
cuckoo-tracking scheme ref1
cuckoos ref1, ref2
CWK Motors ref1
cycle of conflict ref1
cygnets ref1
D
Dad’s Army ref1
David (cousin) ref1, ref2
de Merode, Emmanuel ref1, ref2, ref3
deer ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7
incidents ref1, ref2, ref3
knuckling ref1
Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) (see Congo)
Devon ref1, ref2
DiCaprio, Leonardo ref1
Discovery Channel ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
dogs ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9, ref10, ref11, ref12, ref13
ducks ref1, ref2, ref3
E
eagles ref1
ED&F Man ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
elephants ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
English Channel ref1, ref2
environmentalism ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
euthanasia, animal ref1, ref2
Exxon Mobil ref1
F
Fairlight ref1
fawns ref1
fen trapping ref1
ferrets ref1
Fitchat, Helena ref1
Fitzpatrick, Noel ref1
fleas ref1
Fleur (owl) ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6
fire at farm ref1
as Randalls mascot ref1
Florida ref1
Foreign Office (FO) (UK) ref1, ref2
foxes ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8
France ref1, ref2, ref3
Francis, Pope ref1
Freemen’s School ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
G
game hunting ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
gannets ref1
geese ref1
gibbons ref1
gin trapping ref1
globalisation ref1
goats ref1
golden eagles ref1
Goma ref1
Good Life, The ref1
Gore, Al ref1
Gorilla Doctors ref1, ref2
gorillas ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
government policy ref1, ref2
GPS-monitoring ref1
great white sharks ref1, ref2
Guatemala ref1
H
Hampton Court ref1
Hanoi ref1
Haycocks, Paddy ref1
Headley ref1, ref2
hedgehogs ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9, ref10
tracking survey ref1
hippopotamuses ref1
hogs ref1
Hulk Hogan ref1
huskies ref1
hydrocephalus ref1
I
iDot (I Do One Thing) campaign ref1
Incledon, Jim ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7
Africa trip ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9
Asia trip ref1, ref2, ref3
Cape trip ref1, ref2
Sam’s death ref1
Irwin, Steve ref1
Isle of Wight ref1
Italy ref1
It’ll Be Alright on the Night ref1, ref2
ITV ref1, ref2, ref3
J
jackdaws ref1, ref2
jaguars ref1
Japan ref1
Jason (TV editor) ref1, ref2, ref3
Africa trip ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6
Asia trip ref1, ref2
Jersey ref1
Jones, Frank ref1
Juniper Hall ref1
Just Giving ref1
K
kangaroos ref1
Kapani Lodge ref1
Keith, Penelope ref1
kestrels ref1
Khrushchev, Nikita ref1
kingfishers ref1
Knight, Steve ref1
Krebs, John ref1
L
League Against Cruel Sports ref1
Leatherhead ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6
leeches ref1
Leigh County Primary School ref1
Life on Earth ref1
lions ref1
logging ref1, ref2
London Zoo ref1
Luangwa Valley National Park ref1, ref2
M
McKenna, Virginia ref1
maggots ref1, ref2
Man, James ref1
manatees ref1
Marker, Laurie ref1, ref2
Marsh, Henry ref1
Max (dog) ref1
media exposure ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5,
ref6, ref7, ref8
Mexico ref1
Mfuwe ref1
monkeys ref1
Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project ref1
N
Namibia ref1, ref2, ref3
Natural England ref1
Noel (gorilla) ref1
Norman Carr Safaris ref1
O
Obama, Barack ref1
Oddie, Bill ref1
Office Angels ref1
Owl with the Golden Heart, The (Cowell) ref1
owls ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9
P
Packham, Chris ref1
Panton, Morven ref1
Paris ref1, ref2
Pata Zoo ref1, ref2, ref3
Patient Zero (seagull) ref1
Paula (girlfriend) ref1, ref2, ref3
Percy (swan goose) ref1, ref2, ref3
Perkin, John ref1, ref2, ref3
pheasants ref1
pigeons ref1, ref2
pollution ref1
Pop Idol ref1
Punta Gorda ref1
R
Rags (dog) ref1
Ramer, Jan ref1, ref2, ref3
Randalls Farm ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9, ref10, ref11, ref12
fire ref1, ref2
Jill leaves ref1
Simon moves out ref1
‘top barn’ ref1, ref2
Randalls Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre ref1, ref2 (see also Wildlife Aid; Wildlife Aid Foundation)
charitable registration ref1, ref2
City earnings fund ref1
fundraising ref1
growth of ref1
mascot ref1
rescue service (see main entry)
setting up ref1, ref2
volunteers ref1
rare breeds ref1
‘red tag’ rescues ref1
rescue service ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9 (see also Wildlife Aid Foundation)
Belize ref1, ref2
deer incidents ref1, ref2, ref3
filming ref1
fire at farm ref1
rehabilitation ref1
Reigate duck incident ref1
and rescue releases ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
smoke-alarm call-out ref1
South Africa ref1
‘spider incident’ ref1
teaching techniques ref1
Thailand ref1
TV series ref1
USA ref1, ref2
YouTube films ref1
Rhodes, Pam ref1
roadkill ref1, ref2
Robinson, Jill ref1, ref2
Rocky Mountains ref1
roe deer (see deer)
Rose, Vince ref1, ref2, ref3
Rouse, Steve ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8
RSPCA ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
Rusbridge, Clare ref1
Rwanda ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
S
safari ref1, ref2
Sahara ref1
St Giles-on-the-Heath ref1
Sam (dog) ref1
death ref1
seagulls ref1, ref2
Seale-Hayne College ref1
seals ref1
Secombe, Harry ref1
sharks ref1
shooting ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6
shrimping ref1
Singapore ref1
Sky ref1
snakes ref1, ref2
social media ref1, ref2 (see also Twitter; YouTube)
Songs of Praise ref1
South Africa ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
South West Trains ref1
Soviet Union ref1
sparrowhawk ref1
Spice Girls ref1
spiders ref1
squirrels ref1, ref2
Stanislava (‘Stani’) (girlfriend) ref1, ref2, ref3
Stocker, Les ref1
Stocker, Sue ref1
stomach-feeding ref1
Strood Green ref1
sugar trading ref1, ref2, ref3
Supervet, The ref1
swan geese ref1
swans ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6
Swift, Taylor ref1
T
Talkback Thames ref1
tarantulas ref1
Tarrant, Chris ref1
Tarrant, Ingrid ref1
Thailand ref1, ref2, ref3
Thames, River ref1
Thatcher, Margaret ref1
Tibbetts, Joyce ref1
Tiger Temple ref1
tigers ref1, ref2
Tiggywinkles ref1
turkeys ref1
TV companies ref1, ref2 (see also media exposure; individual channels)
Twitter ref1
U
Uganda ref1
UNESCO ref1
urban foxes ref1
ursodeoxycholic acid ref1
USA ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
USSR ref1
V
Vietnam ref1, ref2, ref3
Virunga National Park ref1, ref2, ref3
Vodacom ref1
W
Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua ref1
water rationing ref1
Westhumble ref1
white lions ref1
Who Wants to be a Millionaire? ref1
Wiek, Edwin ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6
Wild Productions ref1, ref2, ref3
wild turkeys ref1
Wildlife Aid ref1, ref2, ref3 (see also Randalls Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre; Wildlife Aid Foundation; Wildlife SOS)
celebrity support ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
Channel charity swim ref1
corporate support ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6
evolution of ref1
false accusation ref1
fire ref1, ref2
foundation status ref1
fundraising ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6
growth of ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6
MBE ref1
membership ref1
national exposure ref1
policy-making ref1
public support ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5 (see also charitable donations)
rescue service (see main entry)
safari ref1
South African counterpart ref1, ref2
surgery ref1, ref2
ten years on ref1, ref2
TV series ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9, ref10, ref11, ref12, ref13, ref14 (see also Wildlife SOS)
veterinary hospital ref1
video appeal ref1
volunteers ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9, ref10, ref11, ref12, ref13, ref14, ref15, ref16, ref17, ref18, ref19, ref20
Wildlife Aid Foundation (WAF) ref1, ref2, ref3 (see also Randalls Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre; Wildlife Aid; Wildlife SOS)
celebrity support ref1
corporate support ref1
education centre ref1
fundraising ref1, ref2, ref3
growth of ref1, ref2
iDot (I Do One Thing) campaign ref1
legacies ref1
public support ref1
veterinary hospital ref1
volunteers ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
website ref1
wetland wildlife refuge ref1
YouTube channel ref1, ref2
Wildlife Aid Open Day ref1
wildlife bridges ref1
Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) ref1, ref2
Wildlife SOS ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8 (see also Bionic Vet; Supervet; YouTube)
Cape trip ref1
fundraising ref1
global success ref1, ref2
popularity ref1
Series 10 ref1
success of ref1
2006 revamp ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7
2013 end ref1, ref2
US trip ref1
wildlife tunnels ref1
woodpeckers ref1
wo
rmfest ref1
X
X-rays ref1, ref2
Y
YouTube ref1
rescue service ref1
WAF channel ref1, ref2
yuppies ref1, ref2
Z
Zambia ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
Zimbabwe ref1
Zoological Society ref1
zoonotic link ref1
Illustrations
1. Me as a fresh-faced young boy.
2. Jill and me modelling a pair of Wildlife Aid sweatshirts at the door of Randalls Farm.
3. Me in my Wildlife Aid uniform.
4. Every animal matters, no matter how small.
5. This tawny owl was in a tight spot when we were called out to rescue it.
6. When I’m on a rescue, I focus completely on the animal – even when there’s a camera in my face.
7. Percy the swan goose was one of our longest residents.
8. Just one of the hundreds of badgers we have saved over the years.
9. There is nothing more rewarding than releasing an animal back to the wild.
10. One of the volunteers knitted a Simon for the badgers. I particularly like the attention to detail, although it should be Diet Coke.
11. A baby owl plays peek-a-boo with the camera.
12. The Wildlife Aid Foundation centre is where I feel most at home.
13. Sunrise on the morning after the fire showed how much we’d lost.
14. Various celebrities have been a great help to us. Born Free Foundation founder Virginia McKenna has been a wonderful supporter for many years.
15. Chris Tarrant helps out at one of our open days.
16. Ricky Gervais, another of our celebrity supporters, described me as ‘like David Attenborough, with Tourette’s’.
17. My first foreign filming assignment to Zambia was an amazing experience.
18. In Vietnam with our government minder and the crew: Jim, me and Jason.
19. To be so close to one of the world’s rarest creatures was an honour.
20. I talk to Dr Marker about her scheme encouraging goat herders to protect flocks with dogs, rather than guns.
21. In Namibia at the Cheetah Conservation Fund with Dr Laurie Marker.
22. Wildlife SOS gave me the opportunity to see other conservation projects around the world.
23. Amazingly these seals made their own way to the seal rescue centre when they were ill.
24. Rescued penguins in South Africa prepare to go back to the wild.
25. Filming in Russia where the wild wolf population is in decline.
26. In Belize where this baby croc had found its way into a hotel. Luckily the staff there called in the experts.
27. British Veterinary Ophthalmology specialist Dr Claudia Hartley investigates a Vietnamese moon bear for eye disease.
28. Nothing can prepare you for the sight of a great white shark emerging from the murk of the ocean.