The incredible story of a circus performer turned Leeds zoo owner

She was a circus performer and magician's assistant who became a zoo owner in a Leeds suburb.

- by Andrew Hutchinson

Olga Denver was born in Switzerland in 1929 but moved to the UK when she was a baby and settled in Leeds.

She trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art before performing in revue shows; singing, dancing and performing sketches in theatres across the country.

When she was 18 she answered a job advertisement for 'a girl with nerves of steel' to work with her future husband Hal Denver, the stage name of Ralph Norman.

Mr Denver, who had grown up in the circus and was the son of travelling showman Tom Norman who promoted the 'Elephant Man' Joseph Merrick, required "a girl with nerves of steel".

She became the assistant for his knife-throwing act among other daring feats, which the couple performed across America in the 1950s.