In 1950 ex RAF pilot Frank Farrar met his wife Helena and they started to keep animals including a lion in their house. In 1953 they started Southport Zoo. This was sold and they then purchased Stanway House and surrounding 40 acres to create Colchester Zoo. Eventually in 1983 they sold the zoo to Frank's niece Angela and her husband Dominique Tropeanos who remain the current owners.In 1988 a further 20 acres bordering the Roman River Valley was purchased from Tarmac. Colchester Zoo is in the best 10 UK zoos.