Memories

That elephant

By Mohammed Ahmed

Mr P. D. Atkinson, aged 78, who now lives in Clifton, phoned me at the weekend to tell me the story as he remembers it. He lived in the Meadows at the time and remembers reading it in the Evening Post.

The elephant was part of a circus brought to Nottingham by train to the Low Level Station. It was stabled under the arches of the Railway Bridge. It escaped but was soon caught by its keeper who reportedly said ‘Come on Baby’ as it was taken safely back to the Arches. Whether Baby was its official name is not known, but the name was adopted affectionately by local people.

There was only one casualty during this incident. An elderly lady was a little perturbed when Baby pushed its trunk through her letterbox.

That is Mr Atkinson’s recollection of the event. Can anyone else add to the story?