An emailed press release about the establishment of a new online learning hub at a UK-based safari park would normally find its way to the trash folder in double quick time.

But not on this occasion.

For Knowsley, the name of the safari park, evoked one of those proustian memories that seem to arrive much more frequently these days.

Knowsley Safari Park, along with the rest of the Knowsley Estate, which is just outside Liverpool, is owned by Edward (Teddy) Stanley, the 19th Earl of Derby.

And back in the 1990s the Earl of Derby just happened to be head of private banking at Robert Fleming & Co, t...