It was a brilliant spring day in 1962. The sun shone down as world-famous entertainer Coco the clown cut a blue ribbon and 3,000 people surged into Cromer Zoo at Howard's Hill.

Coco - real name Nicolai Poliakoff OBE - was lending a helping hand at the opening ceremony for his daughter Olga Kerr and her husband Alexander who were the proprietors of the new attraction.

Eastern Daily Press: After opening Cromer Zoo, Coco made friends with a chimpanzee. Actor and TV personality Ian Hendry looks on from behind. Date: March 26, 1962.After opening Cromer Zoo, Coco made friends with a chimpanzee. Actor and TV personality Ian Hendry looks on from behind. Date: March 26, 1962. (Image: Archant Library/Local Recall)

Eastern Daily Press: Mrs Olga Kerr, owner of the Cromer Zoo, with her daughter Francine. Date: June 29, 1977.Mrs Olga Kerr, owner of the Cromer Zoo, with her daughter Francine. Date: June 29, 1977. (Image: Archant Library)

The first visitors were greeted by exotic wildlife including South American tree bears, tropical birds, a leopard, a llama and a pipe-smoking chimpanzee named Billy who also smoked cigarettes donated by visitors.

Eastern Daily Press: Marjorie the elephant at Cromer Zoo enjoys some hay donated by the public following an appeal. Date: 1968.Marjorie the elephant at Cromer Zoo enjoys some hay donated by the public following an appeal. Date: 1968. (Image: Archant Library)

Eastern Daily Press: Open wide! Marjorie the elephant begs for a treat from Alexander Kerr at Cromer Zoo. Date: April 23, 1968.Open wide! Marjorie the elephant begs for a treat from Alexander Kerr at Cromer Zoo. Date: April 23, 1968. (Image: Archant Library/Local Recall)

For the next twenty-one years Olga ran Cromer Zoo - Alexander died in 1970 but her children Alexis, Francine and Roderick helped out over the years.

Eastern Daily Press: New arrivals at Cromer Zoo. Date: August 11, 1980.New arrivals at Cromer Zoo. Date: August 11, 1980. (Image: Archant Library)

Eastern Daily Press: A monkey with her baby at Cromer Zoo. Date: June 13, 1979.A monkey with her baby at Cromer Zoo. Date: June 13, 1979. (Image: Archant Library)

New attractions came and went but low visitation in the winters and the high costs of feeding and caring for the animals eventually took their toll.

Cromer Zoo closed in 1983 - gradually all the animals were rehomed soon after but some had to be put down.

After giving up the zoo, Olga ran holiday properties and then filled her days with family time and voluntary work particularly for the Red Cross - she died in 2015.

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Eastern Daily Press: Left: one of the bears at Cromer Zoo makes short work of an ornage. Right: Alexander Kerr intended to release this full-grown fox on the Scottish border but his daughter Francine, then 16, had other ideas and it stayed with them at the zoo. Date: April 23, 1968.Left: one of the bears at Cromer Zoo makes short work of an ornage. Right: Alexander Kerr intended to release this full-grown fox on the Scottish border but his daughter Francine, then 16, had other ideas and it stayed with them at the zoo. Date: April 23, 1968. (Image: Archant Library/Local Recall)

Eastern Daily Press: Cromer Zoo wallabies. Date: May 20, 1978.Cromer Zoo wallabies. Date: May 20, 1978. (Image: Archant Library)