BIRD BESTIE
Florence Nightingale was so attached to her pet owl that she carried it around in her apron pocket. The bird, rescued in Athens, grew fiercely loyal, and was named ‘Athena’. They were separated when she left for the Crimean War.
FAST FELINE
On 11 December 1937, at a packed Romford Stadium, a race was held involving two greyhounds and a cheetah. The spotted cat, Helen, set a new course record, running the 240-plus metres in just 15.86 seconds.
NORSE HORSE
In Norse and Germanic myth, the powerful ‘allfather’ god Odin was accompanied by two wolves and two ravens. His most impressive animal friend was Sleipnir, a horse with eight legs who could run through the air.
POLITE PADDLER
At the 1928 Olympics, Australian rower Bobby Pearce stopped during…
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History Revealed (Digital) - 1 Issue, January 2024