The Giant Cat of South London

Catherine Penfold-Waxman: 14th Jun 2006 - 13:26 GMT

"We're from Catford, ain't we, oi!"
But now I don't remember where that comes from.

I.T.U.C.: 14th Jun 2006 - 14:12 GMT

"A Taste Of Aggro" by Barron Knights.

bluebuddies.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php/topic/1/70.html

[To the tune of "The Smurf Theme Song"]
"Where are you all coming from?"
We're from Dartmoor, on the run
"How did you work out your route?"
We followed the arrows on our suit
"What were you in Dartmoor for?"
"We borrowed a safe from the bank next door"
"and why do you all talk this way?"
Cause we're from Catford, ain't we? Eh!
Lalalalalala, lalalalala [Etc.]

A well known ditty, I and mine share with Catford most weekend nights; after partaking of a Sherry or six. You asked...

Catherine Penfold-Waxman: 14th Jun 2006 - 14:29 GMT

Thank you! It was driving me a little batty trying to remember it. And now I can't forget it. I'll have to resort to hard-core punk to get it out of my head.

an_impossible_child: 21st Jun 2006 - 17:59 GMT

i lived in catford for quite a few years & erm the cat was the only interesting thing in the whole place. & the turkish bakery.
there wasn't even a bookshop, just regular chainstore stuff.
not happy :S

annulla: 5th Jan 2007 - 23:05 GMT

Oh, the cat is great! Thanks for posting these photos.

http://annulla.blogspot.com

whereistom: 29th Jan 2007 - 16:51 GMT

Good god, I always thought there was a huge black cat somewhere deep down in my childhood memories - I used to get dragged to catford shops by my mum in the 80s, I remember it! I don't think it looked so flaky back then...

Thanks for the photos - fills me with childhood and makes me all warm and fuzzy inside :-)

Loulabelle44: 20th Jun 2007 - 11:25 GMT

Fantastic photos. You really do it justice.

I love the cat. I agree that it is pretty much all Catford has going for it, but that's more than some other towns.

The cat must be coming up for 25 years old now.

I remember it being on the front cover of the News Shopper when it was put up. If only I'd kept the clippings...

Kon Artist: 29th Jun 2007 - 12:45 GMT

As a Catford man I have to say that the CAT is the only thing that really represents Catford as a Town. I remember the days of when you spoke of Catford it was the CAT and the gun shop that was the most iconic landmarks.
We have lost one of iconic symbols (for good reason I believe) lets hope they (council) don't get rid of the CAT.
LONG LIVE THE CAT!!!!!! LONG LIVE THE CAT!!!!!! LONG LIVE THE CAT!!!!!!

jack，chinese friend: 25th Aug 2007 - 16:08 GMT

i have been to catfort weeks ago in the summer vocation.i have stayed there for weeks and i lived at Sandhurst Road.i love catfort , and the cat

ZD: 10th Sep 2007 - 11:35 GMT

If any of you are interested, the Council is holding a consultation event about regenerating Catford, this week. It's in an empty shop in the shopping centre. They want people's views on revamping the town centre. Check out the council website for more info - www.lewisham.gov.uk.

G: 10th Sep 2007 - 12:51 GMT

Yes, Catford is in for a wholesale regeneration project over the next decade. If you want the cat to be preserved, make sure you tell the council, as well as having your say on the more important stuff.

There is more going for Catford than the cat, by the way. To name just a couple : Mountsfield Park is very pretty indeed; the Nubian Arts Centre is a cheap and competent place to get pictures framed, an exercise that breaks the bank anywhere else; the Broadway Theatre often shows dirt-cheap films a few months after their release elsewhere; Ladywell Fields is within walking distance; the market is good for cheap basic household necessities; there are some pretty good food places, like the Take Two Caribbean takeaway and Sapporo Ichiban sushi.

Gerd Gallus: 3rd Nov 2007 - 18:44 GMT

Hi,
I loved the cat. I live in Germany but in the 70s and 80s stayed with a friend who lived in Grove Park. I passed the cat many times by bus when on tour but never managed to take a picture of it...
Nice to see it's still there

hazy: 4th Dec 2007 - 00:19 GMT

anyone know when the cat was erected (so the speak)?

alina: 4th Dec 2007 - 00:37 GMT

Thank you for nice pictures. Who knows how many years is this cat? I have passed it three years ago - now I live in Lithuania.

Marriott: 6th Dec 2007 - 23:44 GMT

You only miss something when it is truely gone. Been 4 years since I lived in catford and that place is still the only place I call home.

samantha: 27th Feb 2008 - 12:19 GMT

i think that the catford cat should stay as it has always been there and thats how people know catford

SAVE THE CATFORD CAT!!!!

john g: 28th Nov 2008 - 16:06 GMT

much like marriott its bin a while since I lived in catford (culverley road) but its still the only place I call home as well.

Stephen Spicer: 11th Mar 2009 - 16:11 GMT

Cat went up in 1974. Took 18 months before a tyre appeared on it's tail

Franny Wentzel: 11th Mar 2009 - 20:58 GMT

Lets hope that cat never comes to Albany New York. Home of the giant Nipper

www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/1910

Nipper via satellite

terraserver-usa.com/image.aspx?T=1&S=10&Z=18&X=3015&Y=23621&W=3&qs=%7cAlbany%7cNY%7c

Mel May: 18th Apr 2009 - 10:53 GMT

Born in Catford 60 years ago and I think the 'cat' is ridiculous as every one knew Catford was shortened from the old English name of 'Cattleford', but the kids nowadays probably haven't seen a cow!

Furrball: 22nd Jun 2009 - 22:42 GMT

Oh Mel, is there really a need to be so patronising towards children???

Zygor: 30th Jul 2009 - 23:32 GMT

Catford has alas like a lot of other areas south of the river been ruined by black immigrant crime.

Debs: 30th Aug 2009 - 16:35 GMT

Went to school in Catford (Prendergast)and watched the cat go up. Down the alley area where its located there used to be a Tesco as kids we would laugh and sing the song..lets all go to Tesco's where (friends name) buys her best clothes lalalala (not sure if its still there). I also remember the Catford Mac Donalds openening in the 70's One of the first in the country. Many people drove for miles and ate there first Big Mac in Catford.

Nick: 29th Oct 2009 - 16:05 GMT

Zygor - Don't you have a BNP rally or something to go to? What a joker...