In Memory of Sir Humphrey

There have been some really entertaining stories today about a kitty named Humphrey, recently deceased, who for much of his life lived at 10 Downing Street working as "chief mouser." The Times offers the following digest of his bio:

Humphrey, a long-haired black and white, was a stray before arriving in Downing Street in 1990

He was named after the fictional mandarin Sir Humphrey Appleby

While the cat resided at the Cabinet Office his food is understood to have been on its budget

His chosen vantage-point was atop a vent that pumped hot air from No 10

He narrowly avoided the wheels of President Clinton's two-ton Cadillac

"Pumped hot air from No 10."

Many of the stories are accompanied by a photo of Cherie Blair holding Humphrey. Though the pictures vary, there is a recurring theme: The painfully awkward expression they share. Apparently the pictures were staged and released to convince the British people that she did not have him killed, as had been alleged at one time.

There are many quite hilarious chapters to his story that are now being told, if you're interested:

The BBC mentions the "hostage-like" photos that were taken to prove that Humphrey had not been iced by Mrs. Blair.

Reuters remembers how the "fur flew" during the same affair, calling him "Humphrey, cat of scandal."

The Daily Telegraph is going all out, though. Today their writer George Jones has come clean in "Humphrey the cat: my part in his downfall." They're also linking to articles from their extensive, and free, archives. From March 2005, they have "Humphrey...the Downing Street dossier." From May 1997, they have "Trappings of family life threaten Humphrey's patch," followed in November of that year by "More questions over how No 10 handled the kitty," "Prove Humphrey is alive, demands Alan Clark," and "No 10 lets the cat out of the bag."

The AP article mainly just rehashes what the British press are saying.

Rest in peace.