REPORTS FROM EARLY BRITISH CAT SHOWS 1947

1947 NATIONAL CAT CLUB SHOW

PRIZEWINNING CAT Staffordshire Sentinel, 29th January 1947
A Stoke-on-Trent cat, Deebank Michael, owned by Mrs. Cheny, of the Woodlands, Trent Vale, won first prize in the any variety cat, long-haired, short-haired, or Siamese class at the National Cat Club’s championship show in London yesterday. Mrs. Cheny alo achieved success with Deebank Michael in the visitor’s class open to exhibitors residing 100 miles or more from the show.

NATIONAL CAT SHOW. Nottingham Evening Post, 29th January 1947
I looked in at the Kentish Town Baths for the opening of the National Cat Club’s 50th championship show. Formerly held at the Crystal Palace, the show is always a gathering of aristocrats. On this occasion it was the first post-war all-variety show to be held in London. There were cats and kittens of all kinds, competing for 200 cups and trophies, some of them not at all appreciative of the honour paid them. The most lordly of them all were the Persians. Mrs. Vize, judge and breeder for many years, told me that the blue variety are the most popular, with the creams running a close second. Of the short hair types the palm goes to the Siamese. If you want a “one-man” animal, you should get a Siamese.

LONDON CAT SHOW SUCCESS Torbay Express and South Devon Echo, 29th January 1947
Miss Cathcart, of Paignton, exhibiting her Trelystan Garnet son, took first prize in the brown tabby male class for long-haired cats at the National Cat Club’s championship show in London yesterday.

PRIZEWINNING MANX CATS The Kensington News and West London Times, 31st January 1947
Miss Sladen, of FitzJames Avenue Kensington, W.14 gained 19 awards for her four Manx cats at the 50th Championship Cat Show held in London on January 28th. Notably Stonor Teresina (tortoiseshell) championship and 3 first prizes; Stonor Kate (tabby) 3 firsts Stonor Magnus (tabby kitten son of Teresina, grandson of Kate) one first and 3 seconds; Stonor Katerina (minature blue Russian-Manx) a first second and third prize. Stonor Kate was chosen to be judged with Siamese and a Red Tabby for the award for “best short-haired cat in show.” She tied for this honour, each cat gaining 3 votes from the judges Finally Mr Yeates, referee judge, gave the casting vote to the Red Tabby. Kate gained the award for “Best Adult Manx” and “Best short-haired cat” open to members of the short-haired Cat Society of Great Britain and the Croydon Cat Club. None of these cats had been shown before Miss Sladen has bred Manx cats since 1921.

1947 FOLKESTONE SHOW

FOLKESTONE CATS Fur and Feather, Rabbits and Rabbit Keeping, August 1, 1947
The cat section at Folkestone on June 28th was not very full, but all the cats and kittens were in very good condition.

Miss D. M. Collins's Classes.
PEDIGREE CAT OR KITTEN (4 absent) 4: 1, 3, r Pope, seal-pointed Siamese female kit¬ten, very promising, lovely eye colour, nice type and tail; 3rd. S.P. Siamese male kitten (litter brother of 1st), nice typy little kitten, fails in eye colour; res., Celestial Venus. S.P. Siamese (dam of 1st and 3rd), very nice con¬dition, good head and type, eyes and points, too pale, awarded spl. No. 6; 2 Friend, Skeete Pandora, a young Blue Persian queen, good eyes for size and colour, nice head, cobby body, coat shady and rather brown, due to moult.
HOUSEHOLD CAT OR KITTEN (2 absent), 2: 1 Down, Sandy, well-marked red tabby Short-hair neuter, good colour and con¬dition, should make a handsome cat when fully grown; 2 Andrews, orange tabby, nice condition, not as evenly marked as 1st. Spl. No. 4 N/A. The 1st prize winning kitten is a daughter of Miss Gordon Jones’s Salween Conqueror.
Many thanks to my helpful steward. Mrs. Stephens. – Dorothy M. Collins.

1947 KENSINGTON KITTEN CLUB AND THE NEUTER CAT SOCIETY SHOW

KENSINGTON KITTEN AND NEUTER CAT CLUB The Kensington News and West London Times, 2nd May 1947
A chance for all Kensington pedigree cat owners, and those whose cats are handsome though humble, to exhibit their pets at a public show will occur early in July when the Kensington Kitten and Neuter Cat Club will hold their annual event at the Vicarage Hall, Vicarage Gate. Before the war the Kensington Kitten Club held shows at Philbeach Hall Tattersals but the war put an end to the Club’s activities The club has now been revived and amalgamated with the Neuter Cat Society. It is affiliated to the governing body of the Cat Fancy.

Constant Lambert the eminent conductor, composer and musician, has agreed to become President. While it is known if Mr Lambert is a cat-lover or has cats of his own, it is rumoured among Kensington Church Street antique dealers that china cats are almost impossible to find because Mr Lambert collects them.

The Show is to be held on July 10th and there will be cups for pedigree cats, also prizes including silver spoons and small cup for household pets. The Honorary Secretary is Miss Kit Wilson of The Loft 18 Southend, W8 who will supply further information to those interested.

"ALLEY CATS, SHOP CATS, ANY OLD CATS" MAY ENTER FOR KENSINGTON SHOW Kensington Post, 17th May 1947
"ALLEY cats don't get a dog's chance," thinks Miss Kit Wilson, joint hon. sec. of the Kensington Kitten Club and the Neuter Cat Society which have recently joined forces to put "cats on the map" again in the Royal Borough. Kit who lives with an actress friend at The Loft in South End, a cul-de-sac of the "lost" village of Kensington, although a well known figure in the fashionable cat world, keeps only alley cats herself. In an exclusive interview she told a Kensington Post reporter, "I think I can say I am unique, in one respect. I am the only cat fancier who keeps solely alley cats. We do intend in our future shows to give the alley cat, the shop cat, the pet without a pedigree, a chance."

Just then Churchill strode into the room, "He’s got all the fire if not the cigar," said Kit, "He was born 2 years ago today on VE day. His Christian names are Victory Edward – he’s an alley cat if you like."

The proudest day in all the nine lives of Kensington cats will be July 10 when at the Parish Hall, Vicarage Gate, side by side with rare Persians and blue point Siamese, well known cat fanciers like Constant Lambert and Rachael Ferguson, both presidents of the Society, will judge the "locals" on "condition and well-being" to discover Mr and Mrs Alley Cat for 1947. "Alley cats, shop cats, any old cats, they are all eligible for our show," says Kit.

She has recently made a trip to Denmark to do some fancying at a Danish club show and now she wants to make more people "cat conscious." "England is the home of good cats," she says, "English cats set the standard for abroad and English judges are in demand all over the continent, This show is designed to make people cat conscious. The entrance fee is only 2s. and prizes will include silver cups and spoons. We are still waiting, however, for some sporting person to come forward and give a challenge trophy for the non-pedigree class."

[SHOW] Daily Herald, 29th May 1947
Alley cats will be on show alongside rare Persians and Siamese, at Kensington parish hall on July 10. Louise Hampton, the actress, will select two to be "Mr and Mrs Alley Cat, 1947." Miss Kit Wilson, joint honorary secretary of Kensington Kitten Club, says: "Alley cats usually don't get a dogs chance." She keeps five of them.

[1947] KENSINGTON KITTEN SHOW Fur and Feather, Rabbits and Rabbit Keeping, June 20, 1947.
Schedules are now out for the Kensington Kitten and Neuter Cat Club (Incorp.) show on July 10th at the Parish Hall, Vicarage Gate, Kensington, W.8. The hall is on Kensington Church Street, and is five minutes’ walk from the underground station. The club, since the amalgamation, has been the centre of a great deal of interest. To date there are 78 members and there are likely to be many more before the closing of entries on June 23rd.

It is very gratifying to hear that there should be a fair number of entries in the short-hair classes, and if everybody who has signified his intention of showing, does so, Mr. Yeates should be kept busy. I have heard of Abyssinians, Blue Foreign and Manx kittens all ready to make their bow. We are making a feature in this show of household pets and shop cats, which will have a room to themselves, and from the cats I have seen which will be entered in these classes there are some very fine short hairs about. Unfortunately all of them have been neutered, but I am hoping that the show will make many more people cat con¬scious, and that the Fancy will welcome some more breeders, when the “one cat owner” sees what a cat show is really like.

I think that breeders of short-hairs should keep more to type. There seems to be a tendency to lose the cobby body, and the round head and small ears in the British cats, and I am wondering if, with the great popularity of the Siamese, that some of the short-hairs to-day are the result of mis-mating. I have been very encouraged by letters I have received from breeders who are wanting to take up short-hairs, and there is great hopes for a revival in the future of this fascinating variety.

It is good news to hear that the Abys¬sinian Club has revived, and we all wish it the best of luck, and hope that the kittens will stay in this country and not be exported until the breed is well on its feet again. Another variety which seems to be looking up is the Blue Foreign. Mrs Parker, King¬ston, who has lately come into the Fancy, is specialising in them and is tackling the breeding of her kittens in a scientific way, and it is very interesting to watch her results. The Rev Basil Rees with his Sylvan strain of British Blues, I know, has a long waiting list for kittens, and if Sylvan Joey’s progeny follow in father’s footsteps things should be looking up in this variety. Manx too are in demand, so now it is up to some enterprising breeder to concentrate on the tabby varieties and the fascinating Torties, then we really should be all set for a revival.

I went to a most enjoyable party at Mrs. Newton’s on Thursday, where we all enjoyed ourselves very much. Long-hair, short-hair and Siamese breeders were all together, and the one topic was cats. It was a great pleasure to see Mrs. Camp¬bell Fraser there looking herself again after her serious illness, and to hear of the Royal garden party where she presented Miss Fraser to Their Majesties. She is a truly grand old lady. Miss Wrightson one of the short-hair en¬thusiasts, came all the way from Hertford¬shire, and I was interested to hear that her winning male, Stanton Red Elf, had been in demand at stud. Miss Beckett had good news of Amigo Winston, the black and white Manx she gave a home to when he left the National show, and who, for her sake, will win at this year’s shows. - Kit Wilson.

BIG DAY FOR HOUSE CATS Dundee Evening Telegraph, 19th June 1947
Household cats whose loyalty to their owners won them distinction as pets during the bombing of London will have pride of place in the first post-war cat show arranged by Kensington Cat Club next month. The decision to encourage the showing of common cats at the same time as pedigree Persians, Siamese and the unique Abyssinia case was taken by the committee following many requests from poor people in the borough. "We are delighted to institute classes for the ordinary household cat," said Miss Kit Wilson, joint hon. secretary of the show. "These cats are revered by their owners as intensely the Abysinnia cat was revered in ancient Egypt and Ethiopia. Miss Louise Hampton, the actress, will judge these classes. She will really have nothing to go on except their condition as they have the characteristics of every breed."

Incidentally, a cat's intelligence and bearing have nothing to do with its breeding. Pedigree cats are usually more aloof than alley cats, but this is, according to Miss Wilson, merely a reflection of their owner's manners and personality.

STILL TIME TO ENTER FOR THE ALLEY CATS' CUP Kensington Post, 5th July 1947
A mass meeting of cats will occur at the show to be held by the Kensington Kitten and Cat Club at the Parish Hall, Vicarage Gate on Thursday next. The total number of pedigree stock entrants is 108 kittens and neuter cats, in addition to 14 long hair kittens in the litter class, and 33 short hair kittens in the litter class also. All of these cats are very well bred and can be relied upon for good behaviour. Household pets and shop cats can be entered until next week, and are coming in slowly but surely. Although a cat without a pedigree is an untouchable in the cat caste system. there will be a Silver Cup for the prettiest entrant in both classes.

Visitors to the show can look forward to an impressive gathering people that matter in the cat world, to which it is unlikely that dogs will be admitted. Owners say that some of cats are as nervous as debutantes before a coming-out ball, and there is much talk of fashions in bows and whisker twirls. The only member of the Kensington community who might perhaps be nervous about the whole idea is our hounded friend, the mouse.

KENSINGTON KITTEN AND NEUTER CAT CLUB’S (INCORP.) SHOW Fur and Feather, Rabbits and Rabbit Keeping, July 4, 1947.
Entries have now closed for the show at the Vicarage Gate, Kensington, on July 10th. The total number of kittens and Neuters is 108 exhibits, plus 14 L.H. kittens in litter classes only, and 33 S.H. kittens in litter classes only making the grand total of 155 kittens and Neuters. Besides this we have some very fine exhibits in the house¬hold pet and shop classes. If all the exhi¬bits which I have been to see come in to the show, it is certain that if we can get some of their owners cat Fancy conscious some of the failing breeds should make a new start, as there really are some magnificent animals about, alas neutered, but many of their owners know where they got the stock from, and should be able to get more of the same strain if they really get interested.

As so many people who have never been to cat shows before are coming to Kensington we are trying to give it the slogan “brighter cat shows” and there will be some inter¬esting events throughout the afternoon. It is good news that Mr. Dyson, the editor of Fur and Feather, hopes to attend, and we shall try to show him that London can compete with Yorkshire! Our grateful thanks for all the support we have received from the Fancy for this, our first show. Good luck to all the exhibitors, and a hearty welcome to all visitors. - J. M. Newton, Kit Wilson, Joint Hon. Secs.

CAT SHOW IN KENSINGTON The Kensington News and West London Times, 11th July 1947
Conductor Constant Lambert and authoress Rachael Ferguson, Presidents of the Kensington Kitten Club and Neuter Cat Society, were judges at a show yesterday held by the Society at the Parish Hall Vicarage Gate Kensington. There were over 200 entries including all manner of cats from rare Persians and Siamese to ‘alley’ cats and shop cats. A number of silver cups and spoons were given for prizes, the names of the prize-winners will be published in next week’s “Kensington News.”

VICTOR – THE YELLOW CAT – WINS FIRST PRIZE The Kensington News and West London Times, 18th July 1947
Victor, golden-furred mascot of The Yellow Cat restaurant, Kensington Church Street, won First Prize of a Silver Cup in the “Shop Cats” class at the Show held by the Kensington Kitten and Neuter Cat Society at the Vicarage Hall, Kensington on Thursday last week. The hall was so crowded with cat-owners and their friends, as well as the interested public, that it was almost impossible to squeeze in another cat-basket. Brave old warrior alley-cats, and shop cats of beauty but no pedigree, rubbed shoulders with chinchillas and blue Persians and lordly Siamese and Abyssinians. Mr Geoffrey Clarke of Golbome Road, North Kensington, won the Second Prize of a Silver Spoon for his shop-cat. The Cup for the Best Household Pet was won by Mrs Redfearn of Ifield Road Earls Court.

Mr Keith Robertson of Our Dumb Friends’ League and Mrs Shepherd, a Moscow Road veterinary surgeon, who acted as judges said they had never seen so many household pets in such perfect condition. The prizes were presented by Miss Rachel Ferguson and Miss Miki Hood, the well-known actress, was also present. Among local prize winners were Mrs Baker of Bevington Road, North Kensington (for the oldest Cat in the show in best condition); Mrs Allen, of Elvaston Place, Kensington (Siamese Neuter-Best neuter in show); Mrs Ingrey of St Charles Square, N Kensington, a novice exhibitor (blue chinchilla-best long haired neuter in show); Miss Elizabeth Ellis of Edwardes Terrace, Kensington (best female neuter in the show) and Mrs Anderson of Brunswick Gardens, Kensington (Abyssinian– best short- haired kitten). The Club will not hold another pedigree show this year but it is hoped that a further contest for household pets can be organised.

TABBY WITH EXTRA TOE IS FUGITIVE FROM CAT SHOW Kensington Post, 19th July 1947
Kensington Show a complete success. One of the two shop-cats in the running for the prize for most contented pair at the Kensington Kitten Club and Neuter Cat Society's show at the Parish Hall, Vicarage Gate, on Friday, is still running-and he refuses to be taught. Every day he eats the food left in the Parish Hall where he is hiding and every day he avoids the meet elaborate attempts to capture him. The escape occurred directly after Mr. Cyril Yeates, Chairman of the Governing Council of Cat Fanciers, had thanked the crowd of over 700 for his birthday present – a brief-case nd illuminated scroll subscribed for by fanciers from all over England and abroad. Conversation had just begun to "buzz" again where there was a cry of "the cats are loose," from someone in the crowd at the far end of the hall.

Kit Wilson, the well-known Kensington cat fancier who was running the show, organised an immediate search, but without success. The contented cat had completely disappeared. The someone found an alley cat that had gate-crashed the show and for a moment it was though that the shop cat had been caught. Messrs Jones and Co., the greengrocers of Thurloe Street, the owners of the lost cat, naturally failed to recognise the intruder and the search had to go on. When the show was over, food was left for the fugitive and the hall was bolted and barred. In the morning the food was gone. Three days later the Jones’ shop cat was still hiding somewhere in the Parish Hall and his full description has been issued to searchers. They will be looking for a long-haired, medium-sized tabby with one extra toe on his left foot.

Cat Show a Great Success. Cats came to Kensington’s first post-war cat show from as far afield as Sunderland, Bristol, Coventry and Northampton, but the one whose arrival aroused most interest belonged to Mr Normal Fisher, a film artist, who lives near Regents Park. He came with his cat on a lead – they had both walked all the way to Kensington. Mr Fisher’s cat jumped up on the table to be examined by the vets and at a softly spoken command opened her mouth as though to say "Ah!" When it came to judging time, however, the cat refused to let the judges handle her.

Eight Kensington cat fanciers had better luck than Mr Fisher and took home proudly the cups and prizes that were presented to them by Rachel Ferguson, the well=known Kensington author. First prize for household cats went to Mrs Redfearn, of Limerton Street, S.W.5. She received the silver cup given by Mrs Sharman, chairman of the Kensington club. "Victor the Yellow Cat" of the Yellow Cat Restaurant, Church Street, won the shop-cats cup given by Mrs Stayson. Runner-up in the shop-cats class was "Korditoo," Mrs Godfrey Clarke’s short-haired black. Korditoo lives in Golborne Road, North Kensington, and his prize was a silver spoon.

In the pedigrees class three novices won first prizes. The best neuter belongs to Mrs Allen, of Elvaston Place, S.W.7, who also scored a win on five club cups. First prize for short-haired kittens went to Mrs Anderson, of Brunswick Gardens, W.8, while Miss Ingrey, of St. Charles’ Square, North Kensington, showed the best long-haired neuter. Best female neuter belongs to Miss Elizabeth Ellis, of Edwardes Terrace, W.8.

WHO WAS SHE? A MYSTERY WOMAN RETURNED 'TABBY WITH EXTRA TOE' Kensington Post, 9th August 1947
Who was the lady who found and returned Jimmie, the tabby with the extra toe? Jimmie, lost three weeks ago at the Kensington cat show, was brought back to his home at Messrs Jones' greengrocery store in Thurloe Street, Kensington on Tuesday by a lady who did not leave her name, who only said she was a cat lover and that she had been searching a fortnight for him.

"Everyone was so excited," Mrs Jones told a Kensington Post reporter, "that she slipped away almost unnoticed. I should think 20 people shook hands with her though. Jimmie is very popular with all my customers and they were glad to see him back in the shop with his old friend Tiger again."

Jimmie and Tiger were in the running at the Cat Show for the first prize for contented cats when somehow Jimmie got out of the cage. He was not seen again but when the show had finished food was put down in the hall for him. For a fortnight he ate the food and eluded the cat catchers with their traps. Then he got out of the hall and all hope of finding him was apparently abandoned. Even Miss Warrington, a South Kensington cat lover, who had offered to sleep in the hall to capture Jimmie, gave up the hunt. Jimmie, whose description was issued as: well fed tabby with one extra toe on the right front paw, had disappeared. One person, though, did not give up. That was the unknown lady who finally took Jimmie back home.

Kit Wilson, the well-known cat fancier, who ran the show, does not know who this lady is. Perhaps she will write and tell us her name so that she can receive the full thanks of the cat lovers of Kensington.

AFTER 15 DAYS SHE FOUND THE MISSING SIX-TOED TABBY Kensington Post, 23rd August 1947
THE KENSINGTON POST has found the lady who returned Jimmie, the tabby-with-the-extra-toe to his old home in Thurloe Street. Miss Elspeth Turner, 48-year old shorthand-typist of Bishop's Mansions, S.W.6, walked into this newspaper's office on Monday and modestly proclaimed herself Jimmie's rescuer. She had read the article In the Kensington Post saying that other Kensington cat-lovers wanted to thank her and she felt obliged to come forward. "I was terribly distressed when I heard that Jimmie had vanished from the Kensington Cat Show," she said "and determined to find him if it was humanly possible. My searching was rewarded and one evening I ran him to earth. He was delighted to hear someone call him by name and came to me at once. I put him in a basket, took him to my flat and in the morning returned him 'all-smiles’ to Mrs Jones at her greengrocery shop in South Kensington.

Miss Turner has already received a charming letter of thanks from Kit Wilson on behalf of the many members of the Kensington Cat Club and she feels that the little episode with Jimmie may serve as some sort of introduction to other cat lovers she is anxious to meet. She is writing to Miss Wilson in the hope for advice about finding homes for other "displaced" cats she has rescued, "I want to find homes for them like Jimmie's," she said, "homes where there are real cat-lovers like myself."

POST-WAR CAT SHOWS ARE CAPTIVATING THE PUBLIC Fur and Feather, Rabbits and Rabbit Keeping, August 1, 1947
I congratulate Mrs. Newton, Miss Wilson, and the committee on their excel¬lent organisation of an enjoyable show at Kensington. Post-war shows appear to attract far more spectators than pre-war events. During the afternoon the hall was so crowded that I saw several people diving under the staging to get into the aisles. >Much as I admire Blues and Siamese, it was very pleasing to see a better assortment of the other varieties; the red long-hairs and blue short-hairs were a lovely sight, and it was good to see the return of that senior fancier, Mr. Basnett and his daughter, with Abyssinians. Several enthusiastic breeders came a long way just to see the exhibits. Mrs. Carbert, from Yorkshire, tells me her Blue male, Skeete Teddie, which won at Notts. and Derby Show has grown into a most attractive cat and she hopes to show him this winter. Miss Langston's female, Mair of Allington, by Deebank Michael ex Glory of Allington is a “flyer,” I hear, and will be making his debut this season.

REPORT OF KITTEN SHOW KENSINGTON Fur and Feather, Rabbits and Rabbit Keeping, August 8, 1947
The Kensington Kitten Show was, in spite of the size of the hall, the weather, and the light refreshments, an unqualified success, and our most grate¬ful thanks are due to all those who helped to make it so. To the chairman. Mrs. Sharman, who has forgotten more about show management than we ever knew, we owe a great debt for the many ways she has helped us throughout the preliminaries and for the many times she has gone to the printers, and corrected proofs.

Miss Beckett worked like a black [an idiom acceptable in 1947] the day before the show, and with Mrs. MacDonald stewarded first for the veterinary surgeon and then for the household pets, no light task as there were nearly forty of them. Mrs. Vize came the day before and stewarded for Miss Yorke on the day. We thank our judges, Miss Langston, Miss Yorke, Mrs. Sayers (making her bow as a judge), and Mr. Yeates and their stewards Miss Harmer, Mrs. Hart, Mrs. Hancox (who made the long journey from Nottingham just for the fun of the thing), Mrs. Corke who sold out of catalogues, Miss Prentis, who helped to rake in the shekels, the office with Mrs. Sharman cool and collected on the book, surrounded by her scribes, Miss Phil¬lips, Mrs. Chappell, Mrs. Barnard, the guardians of the door, Mr. Rees, Mr. Stirling Webb and Mr. Whyte, and the press steward Mrs. Brice Webb, another who came from Nottingham. The Vice-President, Miss Rachel Ferguson presented the prizes, and Mr. Keith Robinson, of O.D.F.L. [Our Dumb Friends League], judged the household pets and shop cats. To all these and to those who so generously subscribed to the show fund, gave specials and guaranteed classes, we say thank you very much.

It was indeed heartening that our first post-war Kitten Show should have had such wonderful sup¬port. About 500 people visited the show through¬out the day, and sometimes it seemed as if the Hall would burst its sides there were so many people jammed in the aisles. Several kittens changed hands, and Mrs. Hinds, at the sales table, was kept busy. Our able veterinary surgeons were Mr. and Mrs. Shephard, M.R.C.V.S., and to them we tender our most grateful thanks for their thorough vetting of all the exhibits. - J. M. Newton & Kit Wilson (joint Show Managers).

Mr. Cyril Yeates’s Classes
The Kensington Kitten and Neuter Cat Clubs held a most successful show on July 10th, and the joint secretaries and managers, Mrs. J. M Newton and Miss Kit Wilson, must have been well satisfied with the result of their labours. Exhibits numbered 155, and entries 486. The public rolled up in such force that in the afternoon the hall was un¬comfortably crowded, and the judges had a hard job to judge their later classes.

Having lived the greater part of my life in the Royal Borough, I have always taken a spec¬ial interest in Kensington shows. Twenty-five years ago with the late Miss Frances Simpson, I saw the first one at the Philbeach Hall which, as Mrs. Wilson pointed out, was not in Kensington. Nor was Tattersalls, where the club’s other shows were held, but there is no doubt about this year's venue being pure Kensington.

On returning from lunch I was invited on to the platform, and had a very pleasant surprise when Miss Wil¬son presented me with a very handsome brief case and an illuminated address, which had been subscribed for by many kind friends in the Fancy, and I welcome this opportunity of thanking them all and saying how greatly I appreciate the honour conferred on me on what Mrs. Wilson called my “coming of age," and the very kind thoughts which prompted it. All the arrangements were perfect – the Judges were able to start at the advertised time of 10 o’clock. One thing that struck me very forcibly, was the number of new faces I saw, and it was almost a shock when I ran into those old-time fanciers. Mrs. George Wilson, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Norris, and Mrs. Sharman and Miss Harmer.

The special for L.H. Cat in show was awarded to Mrs. Chappell's blue, Gaythorne Glenister, Mrs. Hacking's Chinchilla, Redwalls Ballerina be¬ing reserve. Mrs. Spink's Siamese. Amego Tin-Tut, was best short-hair, with Mrs. Anderson’s Abyssinian, Figaro, reserve. The best Neuter was Mrs. Allen’s Siamese Sammie.

BLUE FOREIGN M., 7: 1, 2, 3 Rochford’s Dunloe Jon, D. Silver Toes, D. Another Prince, these kittens are not of true foreign type, which should conform closely to the ideal Siamese, nor have they the acquired sound green eye. The winner had the best coloured and shortest coat, the second had a better head, but he and the third had dark spine lines; abs. Miss Parker's three exhibits.
BLUE FOREIGN F., 4: 1 Rochford’s Dunloe Silver Queen, nice short coat, good colour, better than the males, though also failing type and eye; 2 Janke’s Dunloe Sunshine, nice sound colour, but British in type and eye; abs. Parker.
BLACK, WHITE, OR CREAM, 1: Weston’s Ninda, nice black for colour and type, fair eye, and coat too long.
TORTIE AND TORTIE AND WHITE: 1 Rees’s Sylvan Winkie, moderate tortoiseshell, coat too brindled and not free from tabby markings.
MANX. M. OR F., 3: 1, 2, 3 Sladen, Stonor Silver Susan, mackerel tabby of nice type and quality; 2 S. Sally Spruce, grey tabby, good type, too solid on back; 3 S. Pierrot, unevenly marked black and white of good type.
ABYSSINIAN, M. OR F., 5: 1 and reserve best S.H. in show, Anderson’s Figaro, best type and colour in class, well ticked coat of nice texture; 2 Basnett’s Croham Donna, nice colour and ticking, and free from markings; 3 Basnett’s Croham Abeda, similar kitten, greyer in colour, and too much white under chin; r Robertson’s Roverdale Minx, nice type, nice colour and ticking, spoilt by white chin; vhc Robertson.
BREEDERS, EXCEPT SIAMESE, 10: 1 Cro¬ham Donna; 2 Croham Abeda; 3 Ninda: r Stonor Pierrot: abs. Parker.
A C. NOVICE, EXCEPT SIAMESE, 7: 1 C. Donna; 2 C. Ab¬eda; 3 Sylvan Winkie; abs. Parker; not in pen Anderson’s Friski.
A.C. SELF, 7: 1 D. Silver Queen; 2 D. Another Prince; abs. Parker.
A.O.C., EXCEPT SIAMESE, 3: 1 Fig¬aro; 2 S. silver Susan; 3 Sylvan Winkie.
A.V. FOREIGN, INC. SIAMESE, 13: 1 Lan?? Pincop Azure Ching, blue-point Siamese, nice type, points, cream body colour, showing some fawn on head; 2 Parker’s Merrywocd Mario, nice seal-pointed male, good head, eyes a bit up in the corners; 3 Spink’s Amego Tin-Tut, big, good type, colour and points, eyes too round and coat on the long side; r Lamb's Pincop Azure Zena, blue pointed, very nice type and eye; vhc Cowlishaw, Lamb; abs. Parker, Dean, Anderson.
A.V. PAIRS, 7: 1 Basnett’s Abys¬sinian; 2 Rochford’s blues; equal 2nd Ander¬son’s Abyssinians; 3 Sladen, Manx; abs. Par-ker.
A.V. TEAM, EXCEPT SIAMESE, 5: I Anderson's Abyssinians; 2 Rochford's Blue Foreign; 3 Sladen’s Manx; abs. Parker.
A.V. LITTER, 9: 1 Argyle, five very nice Siamese by Ch. Zy Azure Phanda ex a fine queen, Chinki Marmka; 2 Anderson's four Abyssin¬ians, including the open winner, Figaro; 3 McGregor, Siamese by Salveen Conqueror; r Robertson’s six Abyssinians by Croham Rasambo; vhc Parker, Phillip: abs. Parker, Fish¬er, MacKenzie; a fine class.
A.V. L.H. KIT¬TEN. RADIUS. 9: 1 Phillip's Valley End Tud¬or Minstrel, very nice blue, excelling type, eye, coat, and condition; 2 Chappells Gay¬thorne Glenister, very pale blue, lovely coat, nice type, fails eye colour; 3 Woodbury’s Woodbury Bentley, red, nice type and mark¬ings, could be deeper in colour is remark which applies also to the other reds in the class); r Woodbury Belinda; vhc Corke.
SPECIAL RADIUS, A.V. KITTEN, 4: 1, 2, 3 Hacking's Chinchillas, Redwalls Silver King, R. Silver Cloud, R. Ballerina, three very nice exhibits of good colour and full of quality; abs. Dane.
KENSINGTON CLASS, A.V. KIT¬TEN, 6: 1 Figaro; 2 Merrywood Marco; 3 Stonor Silver Susan; r Anderson’s Abyssin¬ian from litter 102.
KENSINGTON A.V. NEUTER, 4: 1 and best Neuter in show Allen’s Sammie; 2 Ingrey’s blue Chinchilla Tudor Prince; 3 Ellis's Neutered female Mrs. Feather; three fine exhibits; abs. Holland.
KENSINGTON KITTEN CLUB, A.V., L.H., M., 8: 1 Valley End T. M.; 2 R. Silver King: 3 Budell s Mighty Atom, a nice medium blue with good orange eye; r Woodbury Bentley; abs. Barrow.
KENSINGTON KITTEN CLUB, A.V., L.H., F., 17: 1 Redwall’s Ballerina; 2, 3 (Continued on page 351 [not available])

1947 WOMBWELL SHOW

[WOMBWELL SHOW, NOTTS. & DERBY CC] Fur and Feather, Rabbits and Rabbit Keeping, July 11, 1947.
Mr. Cyril Yeates will Judge the cat section at Wombwell show on July 26th, support for which has been granted by the Notts. and Derby Cat Club and the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy.

1947 LANCASHIRE & NORTH-WESTERN COUNTIES CAT SHOW

LANCASHIRE & NORTH-WESTERN COUNTIES CAT CLUB Fur and Feather, Rabbits and Rabbit Keeping, June 6, 1947.

An open show will be held on August 9th on Recreation Ground, Oxford Street, Eccles, in conjunction with Eccles Horticultural and Agricultural Show (supporting Christie Cancer Hospital and Manchester Royal Children’s Hospital). Usual cups and specials for mem¬bers. Offers of specials will be appreciated. Applications for schedules, etc., to Mrs. Culley, 65 Westbourne Park, Urmston, Lancs. Closing date for entries July 25th (postmark).

1947 SANDY SHOW

SANDY SHOW THURSDAY, AUGUST 28TH, 1947. PARK OF SANDYE PLACE. Fur and Feather, Rabbits and Rabbit Keeping, August 8, 1947
KITTENS (held under the Governing Council rules). All kittens will only be accepted if accompanied, by the owner or representative on both journeys. Classes not guaranteed may have to be amalgamated, and classes will only be separated by sex if both classes are guaranteed. Judges:
Miss K Yorke Classes 612, 614 to 618, 622, 624 to 630, 632, 634, 636, 637;
Miss E. Langston Classes 601 to 611, 613, 619 to 621, 623, 631, 633, 635.
Prizes 15/-, 7/6, 5/-. Entry 4/6 for all classes except Household Pets, where the prize money will be 10/-, 5/-, 2/6, and entry fee 2/6. Many specials.
LONGHAIR KITTENS. 2-6 MTHS.: 601 – Blue Male or Female (guaranteed by Mrs Crickmire and Miss Wisker).
LONGHAIR KITTENS, 3-9 MTHS.: 602 – Black Male or Female.
603 – White, Blue or Orange Eyed, Male or Female.
604 – Blue Male.
605 – Blue Female.
606 - Cream or Blue Cream Male or Female (guaranteed by Notts, and Derby Cat Club, per Mr. A. C. Jude).
607 – Chinchilla or Smoke Male or Female (guaranteed by Chinchilla Silver and Smoke Society, per Miss E. Langston).
608 – Brown, Red or Silver Tabby Male or Female (guaranteed by Notts, and Derby Cat Club, per Mr. A. C. Jude).
609 - Tortoiseshell or Tortoiseshell and White Male or Female. 610 – Any Colour Open (may be dup).
611 – Any Colour Breeders Male or Female (may be dup).
612 – Any Colour Novice Male or Female (may be dup).
613 – Any Colour Special Limit Male or Female (may be dup).
614 – Any Colour Pairs, Male or Female (may be dup.
Longhair, Shorthair or Siamese included).

SHORTHAIR KITTENS:
615 – Any Colour Self Male or Female (except Manx).
616 – Any Other Colour Male or Female (except Abyssinian, Manx or Siamese).
617 – Manx Male or Female.
618 – Abyssinian Male or Female.
619 – Seal Pointed Siamese Male.
620 - Seal Pointed Siamese Female.
621 – Blue Pointed Siamese Male or Female.
622 – Any Colour Open Male or Female (may be dupli¬cated from classes 615-621).
623 – Any Colour or Variety Shorthair Novice, Male or Female (may be duplicated from classes 615-622).
624 – Any Colour or Variety Shorthair, Breeders, Male or Female (may be duplicated from classes 615-622).

625 – Any Colour or Variety, Special Limit, Male or Female (may be dupli¬cated from classes 615-622).
626 – Any Variety Household Pet, Longhair Cat or Kitten, Male or Female or Neuter.
627 – Any Variety House¬hold Pet, Shorthair Cat or Kitten, Male or Female or Neuter.

CLUB CLASSES: Guaran¬teed by the respective clubs and restricted to the members (fully paid up) of the clubs.

LONGHAIR KITTENS:
628 – Any Colour Long¬hair Male or Female (National Cat Club per Mr. C. Yeates).
629 – Any Colour Longhair Male or Female (Sandy Show per Mr. B. S. Porter, Secretary. Show Offices. Sandy; you can join this club by sending subscription of 10/- with entry fee).
630 – Any Variety Kitten (Croydon Cat Club per Miss Helen Hill Shaw).
631 – Any Variety Kitten Male or Female 3-6 months (Southern Counties Cat Club per Mrs. K. R. Williams).
632 – Blue Longhaired Kitten Male or Female (Blue Persian Cat Society per Miss J. M. Fisher).

SHORTHAIR KITTENS:
633 – Any Colour Shorthair including Siamese (National Cat Club per Mr. C. Yeates).
634 – Any Colour Shorthair including Siamese (Sandy Show per Mr. B. S. Porter secretary Show Offices. Sandy; you can join this club by tending subscription of 10/- with entry fee).
635 – Any Variety Kitten (Croydon Cat Club per Miss Helen Hill Shaw).
636 – Any Colour including Siamese Male or Female 3-6 months (Southern Counties Cat Club per Mrs. K. R. Williams).
637 – Any Variety Longhair or Shorthair Kitten Male or Female, 3-9 mths. (Notts and Derby Cat Club per Mr. A C. Jude).

Entries close Monday, August 18th, 1947. Schedules from and entries to: Brian S. Porter, Sandy, Beds. Phone: Sandy 60.

[SANDY SHOW] Biggleswade Chronicle, 29th August 1947
The Cat Fancy have decreed that shows of the Sandy Show type should not have championship status, but despite this the kitten classes have attracted sufficient aristocrats of the feline world to provide a good show in this popular section.
[Only 100 cats were entered for the 1947 show compared to 217 in 1946.]

1947 BLUE PERSIAN CAT SOCIETY SHOW

[BLUE PERSIAN CAT SOCIETY SHOW Fur and Feather, Rabbits and Rabbit-Keeping, October 10, 1947
If you are in London on October 15th: 1947, be sure to visit the Blue Persian Cat Society's Tenth Championship Show at the Holy Trinity Hall, Gt. Portland Street, London, W.1. A popular Film Star is expected to open the Show to the Public at 2-30 p.m. Admission two shillings and sixpence. Those wishing to view the judging (a most interesting experi¬ence) admitted at 10 a m. on payment of one shilling extra. Mrs. Brice-Webb, 249, Chil-well Lane, Bramcote, Notts.

[BLUE PERSIAN CAT SOCIETY] Nottingham Evening Post, 16th October 1947
Mrs. Brice Webb, 349, Chilwell-lane, Bramcote, yesterday gained a notable success in the open championship of the Blue Persian Cat Society, held in London. Later, Mrs. Webb and the cat were televised at Alexandra Palace.

[BLUE PERSIAN CAT SOCIETY] Derby Daily Telegraph, 17th October 1947
After winning fifth place In the national championship class at the Blue Persian Cat Society's annual show in London this week, "Areley Rondo," owned by Mrs. C. Prince, of 44, Littleover-lane, Derby, was put "on the air" in the B.B.C.'s television service as a specimen of the breed. Mrs. Prince accompanied television technicians to the studio and saw her cat televised with another prizewinning entry exhibited by a Nottingham breeder.

1947 SIAMESE CAT CLUB SHOW

[SIAMESE CAT CLUB SHOW] Chelmsford Chronicle, 17th October 1947
Meet Lemling Yasha, Lemling Yola, Lemling Yambra, Lemling Yashka, Lemling Yampa, Lemling Yo-Kin, and Lemling Psyche. They were entered for the Siamese Cat Club Show in London yesterday. The seven Lemlings make the fifth litter of 34-year-old Sima of Shrublands, belonging to Mrs. £. B. Martin, of Morven, Galleywood Road, Great Baddow. Mrs. Martin, who is seen with the kittens in this picture by R. V. Vineall, has decided to keep Yashka herself. The seven sisters are twelve weeks old, and are fed four times a day. They are perfect physically. They drink a pint of oatmeal porridge between them every rooming. And have Cod Liver Oil, Vitamin C, and Calcium Lactate.

HER SIAMESE CAT A WINNER Derby Daily Telegraph, 17th October 1947
Mrs. L. France, of Prior's Barn Farm, Borrowash, was awarded a number of first prizes for her Siamese cat, Sco-Ruston Galadima, at the Siamese Cat Club Championship Show in London yesterday. Mrs. France, who came to Borrowash three weeks ago from Jersey, is the owner of 15 cats–l 2 Siamese and three Persian. Another of Mrs. France's Siamese cats, Chinka Sunya, took a first prize in the Nottinghamshire and Derby Cat Club female kitten class and a second prize in a further kitten class.

TOOK KITTEN TO BBC TO MEET NOVA PILBEAM Kentish Express, 14th November 1947
Mr. Peter Pope, of 13, Torrington-rd., Ashford, took part in the B.B.C.'s "Monday Night At Eight,” this week, following a Birthday Wish by Miss Nova Pilbeam to meet Mr. Pope's prizewinning Siamese kitten, Pagan Goddess. This unbeaten blue eyed kitten won awards for the best exhibit at the Siamese Cat Club's show in October (the first time a kitten has won this award for 15 years) where it also won the best kitten award and came top in four classes. Mr. Pope and his sister Betty who own the kitten jointly arrived at Broadcasting House after Peggy, as they call her, had won awards for te best Siamese kitten, the best shorthair kitten and four other first prizes at the Croydon Cat Club show.

Mr. Pope, who is 42, has been breeding birds since he was six years old and though he has been breeding cats for some time, Peggy is his first Siamese kitten. He has had many offers, including several from the U.S., for her but refuses to sell. Peggy has been entered in a number of shows, and Mr. Pope hopes that she will become a champion when she “comes of age,” at nine months. At present she is seven months old.

1947 CROYDON CAT CLUB SHOW

[CROYDON] CHAMPION CAT Staffordshire Newsletter, 15th November 1947
At the Croydon championship cat show on Monday, Mrs D.H. Harrington-Harvard, of Milford Lodge, Milford, Stafford, won the championship certificate and seven other first prizes with her blue Persian, Oxleys Peter John, beating three former champions. Oxleys Peter John, who was bred by Mrs Harrington-Harvard, has now won 44 awards. She values it at £75.

1947 TORQUAY FANCIERS’ SOCIETY SHOW

[TORQUAY FANCIERS] CAT SHOW. Torbay Express and South Devon Echo, 20th November 1947
Cat Show, classes for pedigree, also domestic and shop cats, in conjunction with Torquay Fanciers’ Show, Pengelly Hall, Torwood Street, November 29th. Entry forms from Hon. Secretary, 128, Windsor Road, Torquay. Entries close November 22nd.

CATS AT TORQUAY Fur and Feather, Rabbits and Rabbit Keeping, July 4, 1947.
There was a very disappointing entry of cats at Torquay on June 21st. They had been included for the first time in the Association’s schedule. – J.F.C.

PERSIAN, M. OR F., 1: 1 Woodall, Eirannie Soni Boi, beautiful young blue male, excelling in head and eye, lovely flowing coat, well shown.
A.V. L.H., 2: 1 Eirannie Soni Boi; 3 Pitman, Tortie and White baby, nice head and eye but otherwise poor.
SIAMESE, M. OR F., 1: 1 Greig, male. nice, dense points, fair head, eyes too round and rather too pale in colour. A.V.. S.H.. M. OR F., 2: 1 Grieg; 2 Pitman, Tortie and White, very brilliant patching, nice shape, not enough white, good condition.
HOUSEHOLD PET, 1: Pitman.

There was a total of seven entries and four cats, which was very discouraging, both for the executive and myself as judge. – J. F. Cathcart (Judge).