Simon Cowell (conservationist) explained

Simon Cowell
Birth Name:Simon Maxwell Cowell
Birth Date:19 April 1952
Birth Place:Epsom, England
Alma Mater:Jesus College, Cambridge (PhD)
Education:City of London Freemen's School
Years Active:1983–2024
Occupation:Television presenter, conservationist, author
Organization:Wildlife Aid Foundation
Children:2

Simon Maxwell Cowell (19 April 1952 – 9 June 2024) was a British conservationist, television presenter, and author best known for hosting the Animal Planet documentary series Wildlife SOS from 1996 to 2014.[1] He was the founder of Wildlife Aid Foundation, originally titled Wildlife Aid, which is a charitable organization dedicated to the "rescue, rehabilitation, and release of British wildlife".[2]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: I'm Simon Cowell – but I can't rocket you to stardom. 15 July 2022. 11 June 2020. Cowell. Simon. Metro. 16 July 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220716011557/https://metro.co.uk/2020/06/11/hello-name-simon-cowell-12831487/. live.
  2. Web site: Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood. BBC News.
  3. Web site: Wildlife crusader Simon Cowell: 'When I collapsed from executive burn-out I realised that I really wanted to work with injured animals'. 25 August 2016. Belfast Telegraph. https://web.archive.org/web/20220716002336/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/life/features/wildlife-crusader-simon-cowell-when-i-collapsed-from-executive-burn-out-i-realised-that-i-really-wanted-to-work-with-injured-animals-34993206.html. live. 16 July 2022.
  4. wildlifeaid. 722502970827530240. Happy birthday to our founder, Simon Cowell. Thank you for all that you have done and continue to do for wildlife!!.
  5. March 2013. The Ashtead Link. The Ashtead Link – Journal of the Old Freemen's Association. 27. 12–13, 16–17. 15 July 2022. 16 July 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220716015605/https://issuu.com/oldfrees/docs/link_27. live.
  6. Book: Cowell, Simon . My Wild Life: The Story of a Most Unlikely Animal Rescuer . 4 August 2016 . . 978-1782435204 . EN . 11 June 2024 . 29 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230329040448/https://www.mombooks.com/book/my-wild-life/ . live .
  7. Web site: Wildlife Aid – YouTube (channel). 15 July 2022. Youtube. 15 July 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220715172541/https://www.youtube.com/c/wildlifeaid. live.
  8. Web site: On the Wild Side: Jill Cowell. 22 December 1993. 15 July 2022. Independent. de Muth. Susan. 16 July 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220716011519/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/in-bed-with-susan-de-muth-nights-on-the-wild-side-jill-cowell-1468901.html. live.
  9. Web site: Simon's Last Wish. Wildlifeaid.org.uk. 16 July 2022. 16 July 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220716011520/https://www.wildlifeaid.org.uk/simons-last-wish. live.
  10. wildlifeaid. 1547868586185613312. Simon Cowell, our founder, has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of lung cancer that is terminal..
  11. Web site: Harding . Nick . 3 October 2022 . Wildlife Conservationist's Dying Wish To Save More Animals . 11 June 2024 . en-GB . 11 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240611005108/https://theethicalist.com/wildlife-conservationist-dying-wish-save-animals/ . live .
  12. Web site: Simon Cowell: Wildlife SOS presenter and conservationist dies aged 72. Sky News. 11 June 2024. 11 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240611044022/https://news.sky.com/story/simon-cowell-wildlife-sos-presenter-and-conservationist-dies-aged-72-13150970. live.
  13. Web site: Simon Cowell MBE. 10 June 2024. 10 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240610155745/https://www.wildlifeaid.org.uk/simon-cowell-tribute. live.
  14. Web site: Panons . Jacob . 11 June 2024 . Simon Cowell: TV presenter and conservationist dies . 2 July 2024 . . en-GB . 20 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240620163054/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cw448d53z13o . live .
  15. Web site: 10 June 2024 . Simon Cowell: Wildlife SOS presenter and conservationist dies aged 72 . 2 July 2024 . . en . 11 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240611044022/https://news.sky.com/story/simon-cowell-wildlife-sos-presenter-and-conservationist-dies-aged-72-13150970 . live .
  16. Web site: Coady-Stemp . Emily . 1 July 2024 . Simon Cowell: Wildlife charity requests wildflower seed tributes . 2 July 2024 . . en-GB . 1 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240701225920/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cv2gx3zwgv7o . live .
  17. Web site: Wildlife Aid Foundation | Find Out More From WAF...|accessdate=15 July 2022|website=Wildlifeaid.org.uk|archive-date=15 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715215806/https://www.wildlifeaid.org.uk/about-us|url-status=live}}

    Early life and education

    Cowell was born on 19 April 1952.[2]

    ]|date=11 June 2005|website=news.bbc.co.uk|access-date=16 July 2022|archive-date=12 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712005954/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/birthhons_main_11_06_05.pdf|url-status=live}}[3] [4] In his early life, he suffered from stuttering, and enjoyed singing. He attended the City of London Freemen's boarding school,[5] and took part in multiple choirs and school musicals.

    Cowell earned a PhD in biological sciences at Jesus College, Cambridge, and worked as a commodities trader through the 1980s.[6]

    Career

    Together with his ex-wife, Jill, Cowell co-founded the Wildlife Aid Foundation animal rescue and rehabilitation centre in 1983, several years after setting up a wildlife sanctuary on the grounds of his home. The organisation's activities were the subject of the television series Wildlife SOS, and subsequently a YouTube channel series with entries being released to the present day.[7]

    As part of his efforts as a conservationist and animal-rights activist, he has campaigned for PETA. Cowell has been described as a "forthright, witty character" who is "not averse" to profanity. Ricky Gervais once described him as "David Attenborough with Tourette's".

    He was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2005 Birthday Honours for "services to wildlife". As an author, Cowell released a memoir entitled My Wild Life: The Story of a Most Unlikely Animal Rescuer in 2016.

    Personal life

    Cowell had two daughters with his ex-wife, Jillian Geraldine.[8] He resided in Leatherhead, Surrey, and Wildlife Aid Foundation was run out of his home.[9]

    Health and death

    Cowell endured a self-described nervous breakdown in 1994, after which he decided to leave London and dedicate "all his time" to the Wildlife Aid charity.

    In July 2022 it was announced, through his foundation, that Cowell had been diagnosed with an aggressive, terminal form of lung cancer in late June.[10] A donation campaign for his organisation, titled Simon's Last Wish was launched on 15 July[11] and raised more than £650,000.[12]

    On 11 May 2024, it was announced that Cowell's cancer had progressed to his vital organs and although he was still undergoing treatment, doctors had given a prognosis of a few weeks. He died of complications from the disease on 9 June, at the age of 72.[13] [14] [15] [16]

    External links

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