WALTHAMSTOW: Village mourns community cat (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

WALTHAMSTOW: Village mourns community cat

4:08pm Thursday 6th October 2011 in News By Daniel Binns

Much-loved Tetley the cat. Photo courtesy of Raymond Swingler.

A BELOVED stray cat dubbed the most famous feline in Walthamstow is to be honoured with its own public funeral and a memorial plaque at the Vestry House Museum.

Tetley, a black and white moggie believed to be aged 17, died this month of cancer after a lifetime spent in the museum, as well as homes, pubs and churches across the Walthamstow Village area.

The Nag's Head in Orford Road, which has its own beer in honour of Tetley called 'The Itinerant', is to host his funeral on Sunday, October 16.

And staff at the museum in Vestry Road plan to mark his fame with a small sign and planting in its garden.

Tetley was so popular that when he fell ill in September the Walthamstow Village Residents' Association raised £133 in just a few days to pay for his vet bills.

The community first took up collective responsibility for Tetley when his owner moved out of the village around a decade ago.

“He was quite a character”, said Flossie Parsons of the Nag's Head. “He was very well known and used to go around to at least six different addresses to get fed every day.

“He would sleep at our pub most nights in the winter but would go all over. He would hang around in St Mary's churchyard, go to weddings, visit the school, go to the museum's garden and every house in Church Path.

“He especially liked the amphitheatre in the grounds of Walthamstow School for Girls. He would go so much to watch the Shakespeare productions [by amateur dramatics group the Greek Players] that they even incorporated him into some of their performances.”

Linda Weston, a member of staff at the Vestry House Museum, said: “In a way, Tetley is a bit of Walthamstow history.

“He was a much loved village cat, and he certainly had a very busy social calendar, and he would often come in uninvited to watch our citizenship ceremonies. It was like he was lord of the manor.”

Raymond Swingler, of the Walthamstow Village Residents Association, added: “After at least 14 years living among us he will be greatly missed.”

His funeral, which will be a celebration of his life in New Orleans style, featuring a jazz band, takes place from 5.30pm on October 16.

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