These days, we worry about exploitation when it comes to training animals to perform tricks for our entertainment, and we’re not that keen on taxidermy, either. Things were very different in the past. By the 19th century in the UK, some animal charities had been established, but for the average mutt on the street, life was very hard.
Station Jim could be considered lucky. As a puppy, he was tucked into the overcoat pocket of the stationmaster at Slough Railway Station. The first thing that he was taught was to use the footbridge, so he didn’t stray on to the rails.
When he was big enough, a collection box was strapped to his back. He wandered the platforms, engaging with passengers, doing tricks such as sit up and beg, lie down and die and take a bow. If they put a coin in the box he would woof for them too. This amused the travellers and he became quite a celebrity. He did not confine himself to Slough, he would sometimes hop on the trains to Paddington or Windsor.
In his short life of two years (1894-1896), Station Jim collected over £40 (£4,500ish in today’s money) for the Great Western Railway Widows and Orphans Fund. In the days when there was no state pension or other benefits, he was playing an essential role.
When he died, he was sorely missed and there was a collection among locals and station staff to have him stuffed and displayed at the station. Station Jim remains on Platform 5 at Slough station today, and he is still much loved. In 2024, a local drama group performed a play commemorating him.
So, let’s put our modern-day sensibilities to one side and give thanks for dogs like Station Jim.
In Heroes and Traitors, Yonnis picks up a stray dog in a quayside inn, and she becomes part of his household. Only the aristocracy had any concept of dogs as pets in early modern Europe, and most of them were more interested in their capabilities in the hunt or as guards. However, Yonnis is a bit ahead of his time. He values Nessi’s companionship. Her total loyalty to him is one of the joys and the tragedies of the story.
Tangential factoid – Slough people are very proud of the fact that Queen Victoria took her first railway journey from Slough, on June 13th 1842. Before it became the Windsor stop on the London-Bristol mainline, Slough was a very small place. Now it is huge compared to its neighbour south of the river.
