Dick Whittington (General)

by Jefff , West London, Middlesex, Saturday, May 05, 2012, 17:08 (4591 days ago) @ m p griffiths

Hi Marilyn hope you're keeping well.

Very much a true character but sadly cannot say I've seen any evidence whatsoever re his famous Cat, altho' if your Grandaughter asks then of course

"it's behind you"....

see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Whittington_and_His_Cat

Thinking about your grandaughter's questions reminds me of my confusion as a child in the late 60s/early 70s. My dad worked near Ruardean his home village, I vaguely recall a good friend of his called Whittington & clearly of some importance locally !!??. I knew from panto of Mayor Dick Whittington so it was somewhat confusing to me (10 year olds in those days wern't as worldlywise as now !). In many ways the above gent's whole persona & build suggested a pantomime character, don't know if he could sing but to me he looked just like Harry Secombe when a Goon, a short round jolly man with typical 60s blackrimmed glasses ?.

Now thanks to this forum I know he was JIM Whittington who was indeed the Mayor of Ruardean back in the 50s or so !.
http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?id=1337

I also know my memory of him being of generous proportions were correct.
http://www.forest-of-dean.net/downloads/Newspaper/Tribute_to_James_Whittington_.pdf

I don't know if Mayor Jim had a cat ....