{"id":2858,"date":"2022-07-27T03:33:42","date_gmt":"2022-07-27T02:33:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fcara.org.uk\/?p=2858"},"modified":"2022-08-04T23:45:35","modified_gmt":"2022-08-04T22:45:35","slug":"goodbye-rocky-queen-of-ridgdale-street","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fcara.org.uk\/?p=2858","title":{"rendered":"Goodbye Rocky – Queen of Ridgdale Street"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rocky the cat, world famous in Bow, has died at the ripe old age of \u2026 well, who knows? Aline Reed bids her a fond farewell<\/h2>\n


\nGoodbye Rocky, who is<\/span> now settling in<\/span> her eternal sunspot over the rainbow bridge, where there\u2019s a moped, recycling bin and smooth, tarmacked road especially reserved for her.<\/span><\/p>\n

A<\/span> cat of extreme opinions, <\/span>Rocky maintained<\/span> a fierce <\/span>dislike of animals <\/span>alongside an <\/span>absolute devotion to humans.<\/span> She was a <\/span>dog-puncher, cat-fighter,<\/span> rodent-killer and <\/span>self-appointed neighbour<\/span>hood watch leader, as well as <\/span>a champion <\/span>cuddler<\/span>, lap-warmer and high volume purr-<\/span>er<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Right to the end, Rocky pursed her mission to welcome and befriend residents and visitors to our neighbourhood, with a <\/span>particular focus on <\/span>Jebb<\/span> Street (known to some as Rocky Road).<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve lived here long enough, you\u2019ll remember her phase of sitting on the recycling bin on <\/span>Jebb<\/span> Street, before upgrading to Kerstin\u2019s moped, which she <\/span>usually<\/span>sat on backwards. There were also the alleyway years. Finally, the middle of the road became her preferred spot to lie down for a sleep.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"63482F1A-6367-48CF-9625-A47663E01B1C\" <\/div> <\/div>
\"27A0EE9A-2EFB-4881-B536-135619E1A176\" <\/div> <\/div>
\"7B315281-6F69-4A87-9183-2590D703C9D2\" <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"3BCC7EF2-42FD-421E-A8AA-6C7D5C312FA3\" <\/div> <\/div>
\"7AB3248D-013A-40C0-B233-405E7587262E\" <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"39C68D3A-8D5D-4714-8738-8A2CE1DC6552\" <\/div>
\"C7C64DB5-817E-4507-8B22-534330B58F68\" <\/div> <\/div>
\"F53554CB-0A65-4438-A57B-F3BA36A4E241\" <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

Like many aging divas, Rocky was reluctant to sha<\/span>re her actual age. She had a kitten-like sense of mischief, and only lately <\/span>showed <\/span>signs that <\/span>her 21 or 22 years of life<\/span>were taking their toll<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Next to nothing is known of Rocky\u2019s first five years \u2013 except at some point she badly broke some front teeth, and lost the small slip of paper from her collar which recorded her owner\u2019s details.<\/span><\/p>\n

She was found outside a shop on Green Lanes \u2013 skinny, dirty, hungry. She\u2019d convinced <\/span>the shop owner<\/span> she was lost and needed food<\/span> (a skill she later re-used to her advantage)<\/span>. My friend took her home \u2013 named her Charlie \u2013 and tried to trace the owner via the council, the vet\u2019s and posters around the area.<\/span> No joy.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018Charlie\u2019 <\/span>didn\u2019t mind at all. She liked her new home<\/span>. But when my friend mo<\/span>ved in her with girlfriend<\/span> a few months later<\/span> (<\/span>and <\/span>more significantly, her girlfriend\u2019s huge lion-like cat), it was time to move on again. <\/span><\/p>\n

On August Bank Holiday weekend 2005, \u2018Charlie\u2019 started her third incarnation in Stoke Newington. Spotted punching a small brown kitten in the face, she became \u2018Rocky\u2019. She was soon a regular at the local pub, and was known to pop up to Church Street to meet and greet.<\/span><\/p>\n

She liked it there, but it wasn\u2019t her spiritual home. That was <\/span>Bow<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

In April 2006, Rocky moved to <\/span>Ridgdale<\/span> Street, and found it immediately to her liking. So many open doors and windows an<\/span>d each one an invitation to go i<\/span>n\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

That first Christmas, her humans were invited to meet the neighbours <\/span>at<\/span> Ceri<\/span> and Matthew\u2019s. We had never lived in a street where you we<\/span>re invited round for mince pies<\/span>. I don\u2019t think anyone had a clue <\/span>who<\/span> we were. But after a few minutes, the bell rang and in strolled Rocky. \u2018Hi <\/span>Rocky<\/span>!\u2019 said everyone.<\/span><\/p>\n

Everyone knew her.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rocky had countless adventures down the years, sometimes disappearing for days, t<\/span>hen returning (often smelling nicely<\/span> perfume<\/span>d<\/span>).<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are some of the places she ended up:<\/span><\/p>\n