St Luke’s bids farewell to famous cat

Beastie the affectionate black-and-white cat had been a familiar purring face around the University of Exeter’s St Luke’s Campus, until he died recently following a short illness. Beastie was so popular that he has his own Facebook page, with more than 500 followers, and a piece of art in a student study centre bears his image.

Last night, around 60 staff, students and visitors to the campus gathered to remember the much-loved puss, who many students credited with helping ease their exam stress.

Reverend Hannah Alderson, the St Luke’s Chaplain, said: “Beastie was an absolute character. He was probably the only member of the St Luke’s community that knew everybody. Whether a med student, a trainee teacher, a cleaner, a professor or someone coming onto campus to use the sports centre, Beast would be a friend to everyone. He was a common sight basking on his favourite bench or trying to gain entry to buildings! Students and staff have told me that they felt really comforted by his gentle presence.

“The campus have been really saddened by his death and immediately started asking ‘what are we going to do for him?’. We are grateful to Lindsay and Toby, his owners, who loved him dearly, for letting us be involved in remembering Beast. We’re pleased to be able to let them know how very loved he was by everyone at St Luke’s”

Beastie’s owners scattered his ashes near his favourite bench at last night’s ceremony, and his friends shared memories of how Beastie added to the Campus community. His owners were given a memorial book in which people had shared memories of Beastie.

Now, a crowdfunding page has been set up to finance a permanent memorial. The university will make a donation to the fund. https://exeter.hubbub.net/p/beastiebench/

Pictures of Beastie enjoying the campus can be viewed below.