How Brummie journalist helped save a bear from a life of misery
A Birmingham journalist who joined an animal rescue charity for a 280-mile trip through war-torn Ukraine to save a bear whose sanctuary had been impacted by the conflict, will be reliving his experiences at a Birmingham Press Club function on Wednesday, 17 April.
Richard Ashmore , a senior news reporter at Express.co.uk, will be guest speaker at an event to be held at Hockley Social Club, 60 Hampton Street, Birmingham, B19 3LU, commencing at 7 pm. A former winner of both Newcomer of the Year and Reporter of the Year at regional press awards, he has also worked for press agencies in the UK and Australia and national newspapers such as the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and the Sunday Express.
To book you place please email fred.bromwich@btinternet.com In order to keep such regular events accessible to anyone and everyone, tickets will cost just £10 each. You can pay direct to Birmingham Press Club. Sort code: 20-07-82. Account number: 00463000. The night will be informal and table bookings are not required.
Specialising in human interest and foreign news stories, Richard has a particular interest in the war in Ukraine and ISIS operations both in Afghanistan and Syria – where he interviewed British ISIS brides including Shamima Begum and her friend, ex-teacher Wajda Rashid, who is married to a former Birmingham barrister. He has recently returned from Ukraine, where he interviewed Vitali Klitschko, the Mayor of Kyiv (pictured here together), who has been internationally praised as a symbol of Ukrainian resistance.
But he also loves an animal news story – hence his bear-saving trip to Ukraine with videographer Andrew Drury and Lionel de Lange, founder and director of the Warriors for Wildlife charity which advocates rescuing wildlife animals bred out of captivity and finding them a new home or sanctuary closer to their natural habitat.
A Eurasian brown bear named Masha, which had spent 19 years of its life performing tricks in a circus, had been due to be moved from near Lviv to Romania when war broke out. When eventually the charity was able to go ahead in 2022, It took the rescue team two days to complete their journey to a bear sanctuary near Zarnesti in Romania where Masha, instead of living in a tiny iron cage, could enjoy the freedom of open spaces.
But was there a happy ever after? You’ll have to come along to hear what Richard has to say.
TRAVEL NOTE: Hockley Social Club is a 10-15 minute walk from Anow Hill Station and a 3-minute walk from St Paul’s Tram Stop. There are three large car parks nearby – payment via the usual apps. Free street parking is also available outside the venue.
