Hamish McHamish (1999 – 11 September 2014) was a ginger cat who lived in the town of St Andrews, Fife, Scotland. He came to national and international prominence after the publication of a book entitled Hamish McHamish of St Andrews: Cool Cat About Town.[1][2]
Hamish was born in 1999 and was initially owned by Marianne Baird, a retired BBC producer, with whom he lived during his first year.[5] During this time he became increasingly nomadic, often spending days away from home, being fed and watered at various homes in the town. He was known to spend most of his time in and around the houses and businesses on South Street, St Andrews, close to his original home.
Throughout Hamish's life, Ms. Baird cared for his well-being by ensuring he attended a veterinary surgeon every year for a health check and vaccinations.[6]
Rise to fameedit
Home to the University of St Andrews, St Andrews has a large population of tourists and students who had encountered Hamish throughout the years. Hamish had several regular spots where he spent his days. These were primarily local businesses near the Holy Trinity Church[7] and Church Square in St Andrews. The creation of a Hamish McHamish Facebook profile, with in-character messages supposedly composed by the cat, raised his profile further; he had nearly 5,000 Facebook friends,[8] and visitors to the town specifically sought him out to be photographed with him. A local bookshop had a "Hamish recommends" section, with cookbooks for fish and fiction featuring cats.[9]
The interest created by visitors, students and townsfolk led to the publication of a book about his everyday activities. Hamish McHamish of St Andrews: Cool Cat About Town[10] was written by Susan McMullan.
In January 2014, Hamish was chased by two dogs and escaped up a tree. He was helped to safety by university students and staff of a hairdressers he frequented to get his hair combed. This incident encouraged Jim Leishman, Provost of Fife, to ask dog owners to ensure their pets were kept on a lead while near Hamish.[11]
He was featured on BBC television's The One Show, and his story also appeared in newspapers across the world.[12]
Statueedit
Hamish McHamish statue St Andrews
On 5 April 2014 a bronze statue of Hamish by David Annand[13] was unveiled in Logies Lane[14] by Jim Leishman.[9] The funding for the statue was raised by a public donation campaign[1] started by Flora Selwyn, the editor of St Andrews in Focus - a community magazine.[15]
Deathedit
Hamish died on 11 September 2014. A statement on his Facebook group said:[16]
In the end, the chest infection that he had been battling proved too much for him and the kindest thing to do was to let him go. Thank you, Hamish, for the years of joy you’ve given us and for letting us all be part of your life. May your remarkable spirit live on forever in the town you loved... and ruled! Here’s to you, old chum.
Bibliographyedit
McMullan, Susan (2012). Hamish McHamish of St Andrews: Cool Cat About Town. Black and White Publishing. ISBN978-1845025021.
^"Holy Trinity Parish Church". Retrieved 24 March 2014.
^"Hamish McHamish". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
^ abMorse, Felicity (11 September 2014). "Hamish McHamish dead: St Andrew's town cat passes away after battling chest infection - People - News - The Independent". The Independent. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
^McMullan, Susan (2012). Hamish McHamish of St Andrews : cool cat about town. Edinburgh: Black & White. ISBN978-1845025021.
^"Daily Record". 30 January 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
^"Canadian Broadcasting Company". Retrieved 14 October 2014.
^"David Annand official website". 14 October 2014. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
^"Behind the statue of Hamish McHamish". Visit St Andrews. 20 March 2014. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
^St Andrews In Focus magazine, an independently owned & edited bimonthly magazine.
^Callaghan, Carla (11 September 2014). "In pictures: Hamish McHamish the famous St Andrews cat dies aged 15". Daily Record. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
December 15, 2023
hamish, mchamish, 1999, september, 2014, ginger, lived, town, andrews, fife, scotland, came, national, international, prominence, after, publication, book, entitled, andrews, cool, about, town, hamish, waterstones, bookshop, andrewsspeciesfelis, catussexmalebo. Hamish McHamish 1999 11 September 2014 was a ginger cat who lived in the town of St Andrews Fife Scotland He came to national and international prominence after the publication of a book entitled Hamish McHamish of St Andrews Cool Cat About Town 1 2 Hamish McHamishHamish at Waterstones bookshop in St AndrewsSpeciesFelis catusSexMaleBorn1999 1999 exact date unknown though prior to or on 11 September Died11 September 2014 aged 15 St Andrews Fife ScotlandNation fromScotlandOwnerMarianne BairdAppearanceGinger and white green eyesHamish built up a following on social media with a dedicated Facebook page 3 and Twitter account set up by fans 4 Contents 1 Early life 2 Rise to fame 3 Statue 4 Death 5 Bibliography 6 See also 7 ReferencesEarly life editHamish was born in 1999 and was initially owned by Marianne Baird a retired BBC producer with whom he lived during his first year 5 During this time he became increasingly nomadic often spending days away from home being fed and watered at various homes in the town He was known to spend most of his time in and around the houses and businesses on South Street St Andrews close to his original home Throughout Hamish s life Ms Baird cared for his well being by ensuring he attended a veterinary surgeon every year for a health check and vaccinations 6 Rise to fame editHome to the University of St Andrews St Andrews has a large population of tourists and students who had encountered Hamish throughout the years Hamish had several regular spots where he spent his days These were primarily local businesses near the Holy Trinity Church 7 and Church Square in St Andrews The creation of a Hamish McHamish Facebook profile with in character messages supposedly composed by the cat raised his profile further he had nearly 5 000 Facebook friends 8 and visitors to the town specifically sought him out to be photographed with him A local bookshop had a Hamish recommends section with cookbooks for fish and fiction featuring cats 9 The interest created by visitors students and townsfolk led to the publication of a book about his everyday activities Hamish McHamish of St Andrews Cool Cat About Town 10 was written by Susan McMullan In January 2014 Hamish was chased by two dogs and escaped up a tree He was helped to safety by university students and staff of a hairdressers he frequented to get his hair combed This incident encouraged Jim Leishman Provost of Fife to ask dog owners to ensure their pets were kept on a lead while near Hamish 11 He was featured on BBC television s The One Show and his story also appeared in newspapers across the world 12 Statue edit nbsp Hamish McHamish statue St AndrewsOn 5 April 2014 a bronze statue of Hamish by David Annand 13 was unveiled in Logies Lane 14 by Jim Leishman 9 The funding for the statue was raised by a public donation campaign 1 started by Flora Selwyn the editor of St Andrews in Focus a community magazine 15 Death editHamish died on 11 September 2014 A statement on his Facebook group said 16 In the end the chest infection that he had been battling proved too much for him and the kindest thing to do was to let him go Thank you Hamish for the years of joy you ve given us and for letting us all be part of your life May your remarkable spirit live on forever in the town you loved and ruled Here s to you old chum Bibliography editMcMullan Susan 2012 Hamish McHamish of St Andrews Cool Cat About Town Black and White Publishing ISBN 978 1845025021 See also edit nbsp cats portalList of individual catsReferences edit a b Merz Theo 9 November 2013 Hamish McHamish cat to be immortalised with 5 000 bronze statue Telegraph Retrieved 21 March 2014 McMullan Susan 2012 Hamish McHamish of St Andrews Cool Cat About Town Edinburgh Black amp White ISBN 978 1 84502 502 1 Hamish McHamish Facebook Retrieved 21 March 2014 Hamish McHamish hamishstandrews on Twitter Twitter Retrieved 21 March 2014 Google Maps Retrieved 24 March 2014 STV News Retrieved 24 March 2014 Holy Trinity Parish Church Retrieved 24 March 2014 Hamish McHamish www facebook com Retrieved 5 April 2014 a b Morse Felicity 11 September 2014 Hamish McHamish dead St Andrew s town cat passes away after battling chest infection People News The Independent The Independent Retrieved 11 September 2014 McMullan Susan 2012 Hamish McHamish of St Andrews cool cat about town Edinburgh Black amp White ISBN 978 1845025021 Daily Record 30 January 2014 Retrieved 24 March 2014 Canadian Broadcasting Company Retrieved 14 October 2014 David Annand official website 14 October 2014 Retrieved 14 October 2014 Behind the statue of Hamish McHamish Visit St Andrews 20 March 2014 Retrieved 21 March 2014 St Andrews In Focus magazine an independently owned amp edited bimonthly magazine Callaghan Carla 11 September 2014 In pictures Hamish McHamish the famous St Andrews cat dies aged 15 Daily Record Retrieved 11 September 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hamish McHamish amp oldid 1177884650, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
