From Hartland to London and Back

This is a tale of special interest to all who have pet cats.
Mrs R Short, of ‘Pen-y-Brn’ Hartland, and her son and daughter, John and Gloria, spent a whole morning last week looking for their cat, Tinker, who, unknown to them, decided to go on a 400 mile joyride for the day.
Eight-years-old Tinker, smokey-blue and ‘one of the family’ at ‘Pen-y-Brn’, perhaps saw an opportunity of a free trip when Mr Short was loading his furniture lorry for a 4.30am start to North London. Whether or not the animal knew what he was in for is not known, but he stowed away un-noticed, and off they went.
Mr Short made a stop at Wincanton, Somerset. Suddenly suspecting the van might be carrying a passenger, he called out ‘Puss’. Up jumped Tinker.
Tinker, by this time, must have been having second thoughts about the journey and refused all offers of something to eat.
London was reached and the 214 miles back to Hartland were covered by half an hour past midnight, with everyone at home delighted to hear that their pet was ‘found’ and was safe. As for Tinker himself, he rushed immediately to his sleeping quarters, after a tiring and exciting day in which he partially, if not completely, fulfilled the story of a well known nursery rhyme.
In the photograph Tinker is seen in Mrs Short’s arms.
Article is dated 4 February 1955