The Influencers

Topsy is the model for Enoch the black, naive kitten with 5 white hairs on his chest. Nervous and easily frightened.

Ginger was the first Cat, a Manx Cat with no tail! Born in a cave on Whitbarrow scar, a nearby limestone escarpment; when finally taken home to the Farm cottage by his Mother, unwanted like the rest of her previous litters he was about to suffer the same fate as his predecessors when rescued and brought home. Colour ginger (obviously), looked like a Lion and was the original model for Earnshaw; his distinctive Manx Kitten face became the emblem for the Trade Mark. Grew up strong, independent and a hunter of wild Rabbits, not Birds. Ginger was once shot with a 12-bore shotgun in the side; no vets in those days! I cut his fur away and lay still, watching calmly as I removed the shotgun pellets with a pair of tweezers and a pen knife (no anaesthetics available either; age 7 or 8, me!). Ginger successfully recovered without problem. A successful Cat burglar, with a penchant for the custard in custard tarts, never taken into custardy! Was recognisable and famous in the Village although sometimes mistaken for a Dog! Lived a long and contented life.

My first Dog, an Irish Wolf Hound, Bosco was a mystery, he simply walked in one day and adopted me. He ‘guarded’ me and refused to let anyone near me, except for parents; if I crawled too far or he thought I was getting into trouble, he simply picked me up by the scruff of the neck like a wayward pup and carried me back! Very gentle and patient, an important ally and friend. In Cat’s Eyes, was Old Ted’s canine companion until shot by Poachers.

Whitey was original Poacher’s Dog; who used to call on villagers and try to buy Rabbits, Pheasants etc from them. Called at the House one day but was told where to go; ran over his own Dog outside the front door and smashed its leg! The Dog crawled into the house, whimpering and lay under the table. Poacher stormed in and tried to drag the Dog out and finish it off; was discouraged by a heavy walking and threats. Saw Whitey’s leg, bones were sticking out through the skin. Rushed out to dig up some wild Comfrey. Whitey was lifted gently onto the table, still whimpering in pain. Whilst Mother washed and pulverized the Comfrey roots. I pulled the leg to reset the bones which could be seen clearly through the open wound and tied it together with a piece of bandage. Meanwhile, Mother was making a comfrey poultice which we applied to the leg and bandaged it up; Comfrey sets like plaster of Paris and promotes bone healing! Dog renamed Whitey and lived to a ripe old age – without a limp! Slept with Ginger most nights.

Jasper was an unexpected birthday present and the model for Monkton. A Senegal Parrot from Barrow-in Furness, no wonder he was initially confused. He escaped twice, the second time he was at large for three months before I caught him, though I suspect he gratefully surrendered, having had to live in a holly tree and survive on a diet apples to avoid the lethal attentions of Crows and Jackdaws. As a result, became agoraphobic and refused to go further than the door of his cage for the rest of his life. He used to play fight with Tigger, bopping him on the nose with a closed beak, whilst Tigger responded with pokes from a paw with claws withdrawn. Jasper always ended the bouts by pulling Tigger’s whiskers.