Tusk
Tusk
Geordie and I met and were ‘dating’ - which seems a wonderfully courteous and old-fashioned word - some 28 years ago. During those early months I asked him to an event in London to support a charity called Tusk. A girlfriend of mine was somehow going - Tessa Campbell Fraser - and so were various other friends so along we went.
At that time Tusk was rather a young charity, perhaps two years old. It was founded by a man called Charlie Mayhew and named after the many extraordinary animals that were on the brink of extinction. It was different in that its focus was on conservation in terms of helping people live in partnership with both the wildlife and the landscape whilst seeking to make such a partnership practical and sustainable.
Fundamentally, it is about collaboration to help prevent decline in habitat and biodiversity and Tusk therefore works with local organisations in Africa to seek improve livelihoods as well as the animals. For all its initial focus on rhinos and elephants, Tusk also supports Grevy’s Zebra, a cheetah conservation charity and Blue Ventures which helps rebuild tropical fisheries just to name a few of its endeavours.
Last month, to my surprise, I gathered that my son Eddie had decided to organise an art exhibition and had found a gallery to rent in the Brompton Road, London. It was to be in aid of Tusk – apparently, he knew Charlie’s son. His flatmate Harry was on board as well so they would do it together. It is extraordinary how the world goes round and so I set finger to typewriter to help create a fun drinks party. It would be very nice to see some of my London friends - I do feel quite often like a country 'pumpkin' - so, this would be an antithesis.
Eddie and Tusk had gathered together paintings and photographs by very generous artists - just unbelievably kind. One magazine commented of the photographer William Fortescue that he “is one of the finest wildlife photographers of his generation…his work has the power to change the world”(the elephant above).There were also works by Danielle Tomlinson and Quentin Blake, Sophie Green offered an extraordinary Snow Leopard and I had asked Sarah Elder if she could offer some paintings too which again was so generous.
Loading a car with paintings, Highclere Castle Gin, champagne, glasses, oranges, rosemary, folding tables, tablecloths, and food I set off on the appointed morning to London, Paul Mac driving and Catlin squidged in the back. 
Geordie didn’t fit so had to take the train but I suspect he found it rather more peaceful to do so. Eddie and Harry were doing a great job hanging painting but, having done a drop off, I then set off in search of everything that had been forgotten which took most of the afternoon. With a few minutes to spare all was ready and friends started arriving.
Many found some beautiful Christmas gifts: paintings and photos that live with each of us and the proceeds of which help sustain this extraordinary planet. After all - we have no other place to live and it is the intricate mosaic of biodiversity that in essence keeps us alive. As well as moderating our own use of resources, by helping charities such as Tusk we are helping others to thrive, not by telling them what to do but by standing shoulder to shoulder with them and offering our aid.
To quote the late Queen Elizabeth:
“It is often the small steps not the giant leaps that bring about the most lasting change.”
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36 Comments
Brilliant photograph of elephant!
If I had been fortunate enough to be in London for the Tusk exhibition I’d have purchased a print! And one of the Snow Leopard!
I also love the photograph of pink flamingo! Sounds like a brilliant exhibition!
Thankyou Lady Carnarvon for sharing these images!
Best wishes
FLEURINA DECORTES de GILBERT
Orange City East
Central Western NSW
Australia
The artwork is amazing! Thank you for sharing it.
Lovely the pictures of tuck and did you and lord Carnarvon have a lovely weekend and lam downton Abbey and lovely highcelere castle
Thank you for letting me know about Tusk, I would like to help and make a contribution to them. I will google and try to find out how.
Thank you and to your son for supporting such a good cause.
Good Morning Lady Carnarvon,
Your "TUSK" blog this morning is a topic very close to our family's hearts. I was born in Tanzania many years ago and spent my entire childhood growing up in all the East African countries.
Have you heard of Angela, daughter of Dame Daphne Sheldrick? Since her mother's passing she now is CEO of Sheldrick Wildlife Trust which her parents started in Kenya. SWT cares for orphaned elephants but also many other orphaned animals great and small. My husband and I support the incredible work that SWT does all across Kenya. Thank you so much for your support of TUSK.
You must be so proud of your son! What a full circle moment that must have been!
There is an amazing wildlife photographer here in the states that I have admired for over 30 years, Thomas Mangelsen, you should check out his work as well! I was lucky enough to acquire one of his pieces on the polar bears!!
Happy Holidays!
What an important charity. Thank you for this information!
Hi Suzy, that's really kind. The link to donate https://donate.biggive.org/donate/a056900002TPSnDAAX
If you need anything further please do let me know.
Thank you
What a wonderful story. I'm an animal lover so I will be donating to the organization.
Thank you for sharing.
“We admire elephants in part because they demonstrate what we consider the finest human traits: empathy, self-awareness, and social intelligence. But the way we treat them puts on display the very worst of human behavior.”
― Graydon Carter
Lady Fiona, this brightened up my day. I constantly see Prince William supporting charities like these. I was so amazed to see that your son supports this charity. You raised him so well!
I have heard of Tusk but not for some time so I will look into that again - thank you for this lovely piece today - I always smile at your writing style because you always add something witty. 'Going out to get everything you'd forgotten.' How familiar that sounds!
Hello Roxana
That's very kind of you, I've added the link here. https://donate.biggive.org/donate/a056900002TPSnDAAX
Warmest wishes for the festive season to you and your family.
A shining and uplifting effort opposed to the widespread chaos in human affairs. Thanks for the good news about Tusk.
A very touching story. So glad to see that your son is following in your footsteps and caring about preservation of the environment and animals. You are correct this the only place we have to live so we must learn how to preserve it and all of God’s creatures live together.
BEAUTIFUL in more ways than one.
Tusk is a marvelous charity. It’s wonderful that you support it.
Lady Carnarvon,
What an awesome exhibition and tribute to conservators. Your son and his friends have inherited their parents’ dedication to the survival of some of our endangered species, and in this world of travail among nations, that is meaningful.
Thank you for this look into how many of us care about the balance of our world, and thank you for going to your typewriter to share it with us. You amaze me with your writing!
Martha
Oh the "Old Man" standing worn...tears immediately to my eyes..Your reminder to care for all others is so poignant...
Dear Lady Carnarvon,
This is an absolutely fantastic read!! Thank you for sharing the work of such an important charity. When hands are joined in a common goal great things can happen. And they surely did, with some delicious Highclere Castle Gin to provide wonderful hydration.
Congratulations and well done! You must be very proud.
Best regards,
Charlotte Merriam Cole
its bumpkin
rather than
pumpkin
I still quite like pumpkin
The gin was good!!!
Amazing photo
I think many of his generation care
He does stuff himself .. he is a good guy
That's so wonderful that you and your family and friends are doing this. Habitats are shrinking and species are losing numbers with each passing year. We, as a species, must do whatever we can to save the biodiversity, not just for our children, but for all our descendants. If we don't, then the human species will not survive.
Lady Carnarvon,
Thank you for your blog and the work you do to support Tusk.
I am pleased that here in my California hometown, the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is a corporate sponsor of Tusk. The alliance works assiduously with multiple organizations to save elephants worldwide and educate people to live peacefully with these magnificent animals.
This is something my family would have loved to support. My brother. , worked as a photographer in Milan for many years, but his work was rather more eclectic, but, had he been in London, this would have been down his street.
Lovely to see such work going on to support these charities. And, that you had a hand in this latest venture. Have a good week, Lady Carnarvon.
It is all about helping Eddie and Harry made it work
That is a amazing
It is Tusk that leads the way
Suzy thank you - Tusk and my son Edward were bowled over by your kindness - just amazing thank you
Amazing art work. Love the elephants !
Beautiful - both the artwork and everyone's generosity!
Dear Lady Carnarvon:
Thank you for this Monday's blog. I do not know how I missed it.
Also, thank you to your son, Lord Carnarvon, and yourself for participating in this event. From the photographs provided, it looks like everything fell into place, and everyone had a good time.
Perpetua Crawford
That was a wonderful event. The elephant picture is amazing.