AN OWL which attacked the best man at an upmarket wedding has been “sacked” following a “backlash” over the incident.
Bobby the barn owl made international headlines in March after he caused mayhem at a couple’s nuptials at Peckforton Castle, Cheshire.
The venue, which charged £250 for use of “trained owls”, today confirmed that Bobby was no longer being used to fly wedding rings to couples.
The career setback for the owl came as a new video revealed that Bobby has previous form for unauthorised airborne antics involving wedding guests.
A clip shot at the same venue in November 2016 shows Bobby attempt to deliver the rings but end up perched on the head of a bemused best man.
The two incidents appear to have proved too much for Peckforton Castle.
A spokeswoman said: “Unfortunately we are not giving any comment on any owl activity at the weddings.
“The external company that we used, we are no longer using as the handler had a bit of backlash from the past coverage.
“It happened at the time, but it doesn’t always happen.
“We won’t be providing details of the company we used, but I don’t think he would want to comment either.
“Anyone who wishes to use an owl will now have to make arrangements themselves.”
Asked if Bobby will be making as return to weddings at the castle, she added:” Not as far as I know.”
Peckforton Castle’s website no longer features the section which once advertised Bobby’s services.
It used to read: “Bestow a romantic touch to your wedding with our birds. As the rings are requested a member of your wedding party will place on a glove and call one of our beautiful owls down the aisle carrying your wedding rings.”
After finding out about Bobby’s antics in March, another bride, Steph Revill, from halifax, West Yorkshire, revealed the barn owl improvised at her wedding too.
A hilarious video shows Steph, 28, and her husband-to-be Joe, 28, waiting at the bottom of the aisle at Peckforton Castle anxiously awaiting their airbourne ring delivery.
Best man Daniel Atkins can be seen with his arm stretched out waiting for Bobby to land as he can be heard screeching as he enters the room.
The clip filmed by the couple’s friend, Jam Ahmed, shows the handler is then shown tapping his arm to prompt a reluctant Bobby to take flight.
After refusing to leave his arm, the handler begins walking down the aisle before Bobby makes his special flight and lands on Daniel’s arm.
The wedding party erupt by clapping with delight but as Joe tries to get hold of the wedding rings Bobby decides to hop on top of Daniel’s head instead.
Bobby then remains where he is as the room erupts with laughter.
He then flies towards his handler who is then forced to remove the rings himself and hand them over to Daniel.
Speaking today about the incident, Steph from Halifax, West Yorkshire said: “We hired the owl to deliver our rings, then as the owl came down the aisle with its trainer it wouldn’t fly to our best man’s arm.
“The owl just kept squawking. Then it eventually flew down and landed on our best man’s arm. However they couldn’t get the ring bag to untie from the owl’s foot so whilst they were trying the owl jumped on our best man’s head!
“Our guests loved it and roars of laughter filled the room, it was really amusing.
“The owl just sat there on his head until the trainer coaxed it back. It really was an event to remember from our wedding ceremony.
“I couldn’t believe the owl had been misbehaving again when I saw recent footage online. Maybe it’s just a naughty owl.”
The venue offered two owl options – a £250 service which saw the owl deliver the rings or a £350 service where the owl would also remain as a wedding guest after the ceremony to “meet and greet” guests.
On March 17 this year, Bobby got the gig as ring-bearer at the wedding of Jeni Arrowsmith and Mark Wood, from Wrexham, Clwyd.
Bobby is shown gliding gracefully down the aisle before landing one one of the best man’s arms.
But in a turn of events, another best man Cornelius Jones points towards Bobby – prompting Bobby to fly at him, flapping his wings.
Mr Jones, who has a massive fear of birds, is shown tumbling from his seat with his feet in the air as Bobby continues to try and land on him.
