Sadness at Whittington Castle as Bill the swan is put to sleep
One of Whittington Castle's resident swans, who was a popular feature with visitors of all ages, has died after going lame.
Bill, the male mute swan who lived in the moat at Whittington Castle, was put to sleep by the RSPCA after developing incurable problems with his legs.
Castle manager Sue Ellis said he had been having problems with his leg since last year and had been cared for by RSPCA officers at Stapley Grange sanctuary in Cheshire.
She said: "He went to the sanctuary last year for treatment, and then came back.
"Unfortunately the leg had got a lot worse over the last few months. Last week he went really lame and the RSPCA took him to see if they could give him medical attention.
"They put him on painkillers but they thought he would probably never recover and it was deemed necessary to put him to sleep rather than suffer any longer.
"Apparently it's quite a common problem with swans."
She said all the castle staff were sad to hear about Bill's death last Monday.
"He was at least 16 years old and will be greatly missed from the castle moat," she said.
"His life long partner Betty and the three remaining cygnets seem to have moved on. Apparently this is common with swans with no male to protect them.
"They were here last Monday when I went to feed them but they disappeared after that. It was almost as if she sensed Bill had gone.
"She may come back but at this moment in time no sign of her."
