77 years ago

From the Middy 1936.WARNINGLID YOUTH’S GALLANT ACT. RSPCA medal for rescuing a Cat from a 55ft Tree.

The courage of a Warninglid youth, who endangered his life to rescue a cat from a high tree, has been recognised by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals by the presentation of a bronze medal-the Society’s D.S.O.- and a diploma.

The lad was 19-year-old Leonard Francis(a farm employee at Colwood)and the cat a black and white one belonging to Mr Turrell, who lives in a cottage at the bottom of the Rifleman Hill, Warninglid.The tree

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is a Scotch fir some 55ft high, standing in the grounds of the Chestnuts(the residence of Miss Secretan).Pussy had climbed to the top, and had been there five days, when, on November 23rd, Mr Francis volunteered to rescue it from its precarious position. He used a 36-rung ladder to cover the first part of the distance and the remaining 15ft to 20ft he scaled without assistance. At the top of the tree the branches are small, and they swayed dizzily uner the rescuer’s weight.Although experiencing much difficulty and conscious of the fact that the slightest slip would have imperilled his life, Francis carried the cat on his shoulder down to the ladder, where he was relieved by another boy, Ralph Morley. The act was brought to the notice of of the RSPCA by Mr G.S.P.Mayhew, also of Warninglid, and after inquiries had been made by Inspector H.L.Dee, the society decided to make the award mentioned. This, however, is not the end of the story.

On Boxing Day morning the cat, which goes by the name of Dottie, got into the same position in the same tree. It remained there until the following Sunday, when Francis again made the ascent and brought the animal down to safety. Once more he was assisted, on reaching the ladder, by Ralph Morley. On each occasion the cat’s “me-owing” attracted attention. The society’s beautiful bronze medal is suspended from a coloured ribbon, to which is attached a bar bearing the words “For humanity”. On the medal, in addition to the name of the Society, is the inscription “For animal life-saving.”

The presentation was made by MISS SECRETAN during the Warninlinglid school-children’s annual New Year treat in the Seaforth Hall on Wednesday. PINNING THE MEDAL TO MR. FRANCIS’S COAT Miss SECRETAN said: “You have set a very fine example to all the children of the village.” (Applause).

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