Fundraiser to honour Penge East railway station cat with bronze statue

By Lizzie May

A picture puurfect feline who became a railway station sensation is set to be remembered with a bronze statue.

Lily the Penge East station cat died recently, and local people are fundraising for a commemorative statue to be made in her memory.

The GoFundMe page has reached £864 of the £2,500 target in less than a month of being active.

Lily’s owner and fundraising organiser Helen Hughes said on the website: “Lily was a quirky, independent feline who touched the hearts of many.

“Without sounding too ridiculous, we think she symbolised our sense of fun, community and provided a bit of familiar comfort and affection before and after our travels.”

The Penge East Station group are organising a commission with a young artist who makes bronze sculptures, and who also knew Lily well.

Lily passed away in early December from an inoperable tumour on her face.

The feline, who also has more than 300 members on a Facebook group dedicated to her, is also being memorialised into a calendar for people to purchase at £10 each.

Members on the Facebook page also post images of Lily and interact with one another.

One group user, Kat Uzuki, said: “Does anyone else make detours to say hello to the station cat?

“I rarely take public transport, but when I’m cycling in the area, I pop by to say hello, ask how her day is going and what her plans are.”

Any funds left over will be contributed to charity Celia Hammond Animal Trust, where Lily and her owner Ms Hughes first met.

Pictured top: Penge East station’s cat, Lily, who passed away recently