WHAT WITH JD (“JERK DEFINITIVE”) VANCE and all, this may evolve into The Year of the Cat. And, as described by BBC, August 21, 2024, George, a “Popular Train Station Cat Gets Google Maps Marker.” Talk about making it in media!
Here’s George when you Google-Maps-click on Stourbridge Junction in the West Midlands, U.K. This and other images from BBC (George is so photogenic).
BBC Midlands Today Reports. Louise Brierley recounts, “A cat that lives at a train station in the West Midlands has become so popular he has his own marker on Google Maps and even his own merchandise. George the cat first started popping into Stourbridge Junction in 2017, and when his owner emigrated to Spain he was adopted by staff.”
Today, George had 66,000 followers on X and 49,000 followers on Facebook. Image by Simone Carter.
“The 10-year-old moggy,” says Brierley, “has become quite the celebrity thanks to his social media accounts and has fans that come to visit him from as far as the United States, Canada and Asia. He has now been shortlisted for BBC Radio WM’s Make a Difference Award.”
His own merch: Local business Olivia-Mae Creations offers George-themed hats, cups, coasters, and calendars, with part of the profit going to charity.
Official Role. West Midlands supervisor Ian Tomlinson adopted George when his owner emigrated to Spain. “George’s official role,” Brierley recounts, “is Senior Mouse Catcher, but he has a far bigger influence than the title suggests. He helps to spread positivity with uplifting messages posted on his social media pages.”
Naomi White from Craven Arms follows George on social media and said he had “such a difference” to how she felt about the day. I agree!
George, Patron of the Arts. BBC notes, “A mural has been dedicated to George and staff at Stourbridge Junction.”
Above the mural. Below, a wall of contributed artwork, cards and letters dedicated to George.
A Spokescat for West Midlands. Brierley says, “George is the latest in a long tradition of railway station cats….They were traditionally employed to keep vermin down.”
With Good Bennies. Typical of the traditional Brit workforce, felines are not without good job benefits.
Today, “George likes to spend most of his time outside the ticket office.”
Won’tcha buy a ticket, please!
I’d take a West Midlands trip just to say hello. ds
© Dennis Simanaitis, SimanaitisSays.com, 2024