There’s sad news to share from Overton today, as one of the village’s most iconic residents — the much-loved Peacock known locally as Pierre (or Percy, depending who you ask) — has sadly passed away overnight.
On Saturday, the stunning bird was taken under the wing of kind-hearted locals after being spotted looking unwell near his usual stomping ground by the Top Shop. What followed was a heartwarming show of village spirit: longtime Overton resident and wildlife enthusiast Shane King took swift action, transporting Pierre to The Hampshire Vet in Basingstoke where he received emergency pain relief, administered free of charge.
From there, Shane drove the elegant bird to Katie’s Wildlife Rescue in Headley, run by husband-and-wife team Katie and Joe Walton. Despite the best efforts of everyone involved, Pierre’s condition sadly deteriorated overnight and he passed away peacefully in their care.
It’s believed Pierre was well over 20 years old — a remarkable age for a peacock in the wild, and a testament to the care and affection he received from villagers over the years.
Though he’s gone, he leaves behind more than a few tail feathers — he leaves memories, stories, and the kind of local legend that only a peacock in a Hampshire village could inspire.
He will be buried on Monday 9th June at 6pm at Sapley Lane Playing Fields, near the beacon. In the meantime, if you’d like to honour Pierre’s memory, Katie’s Wildlife Rescue — who cared for him in his final hours — continues to operate solely on donations and community support. If anyone wishes to donate to KATIE’S WILDLIFE RESCUE, you can do so by clicking here.
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