MONSTER HUNTER MARRIES

For immediate release: 2007-08-01

On Saturday, 21^st July Corinna James (51) married Jonathan Downes (47), the Director of the Centre for Fortean Zoology, and arguably one of the best known cryptozoologists in the world, ending his notorious bachelor days for good!

The forty-five minute ceremony in Woolfardisworthy’s Parish Church was conducted by the groom’s brother, Chaplain (Major) R.J. Downes, BEM who achieved a modicum of fame, when the BBC News covered his Palm Sunday Service in Basra at the height of the Iraq war. The bridesmaids were Corinna’s two daughters, Shoshannah (22) and Olivia (19) and the bride was given away by her brother, Antony.

The service was followed by a champagne reception at the couple’s home and a buffet meal at the village pub – The Farmer’s Arms.

But will Mr. and Mrs. Downes be able to settle down to a quiet life of wedded bliss?  Probably not, as Corinna has now not just married one of the world’s leading monster hunters, but, after being a Headmaster’s Secretary at a well-known independent school, she will put her skills to good use by stepping into the unenviable role of being administrator to an ever-growing international organisation.

Only three weeks after the wedding, the couple are hosting the 8^th annual Weird Weekend – the largest cryptozoological conference in the English-speaking world.  On the weekend of the 17^th – 19^th August, cryptozoologists from all over the world will converge upon the tiny North Devon village of Woolfardisworthy, where the newly weds live and work.

Amongst this year’s influx is Grigoriy Panchenko, a scientist from the Ukraine who will be presenting evidence for the continued existence of primitive hominids in the former Soviet Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria.

And will there be a honeymoon?  At the moment it is a toss up between a trip to St. Helena, in search of the world’s largest earwig,  a visit to Hong Kong to investigate the continued survival of a rare morph of the rhesus macacque, or the Canary Islands where it appears that some 4 foot lizards, known only from sub-fossil deposits, may still thrive.

Watch this space….

PHOTOGRAPHS AND MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE. CONTACT MARK OR CORINNA ON 01237 451413

NOTES FOR EDITORS:


+ The Centre for Fortean Zoology is a non profit-making organisation, which was founded in 1992. Over the last 11 years we have mounted expeditions to Central America, Thailand, Mexico, various parts of the United States, as well as numerous investigations in the UK. Further information on the CFZ can be found on their website, www.cfz.org.uk.

+ C F Z director Jonathan Downes has written numerous books on the subject of mystery animals. The latest, entitled `Monster Hunter` is his long awaited autobiography.

+The honorary life President of the Centre for Fortean Zoology is renowned explorer, author and soldier Colonel John Blashford-Snell OBE, best known for his pioneering Operation Drake and Operation Raleigh expeditions during the 1970s.

+ The CFZ is looking for corporate and private sponsors