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Eric Gold 1966 |
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Thank you to Eric Gold, formerly of Dumbiedykes, Edinburgh and now living in the East End of London for allowing me to reproduce this photo. This photo was taken in 1966. It is of Eric with his two monkeys, in Bethnal Green Market. Eric wrote: Pet Monkeys "I got these two pet monkeys from a ship's purser who lived in Rio. The monkeys loved me, and they would kill the rats. This photo was taken just before the law came in forcing me to give up the monkeys." Eric Gold, East London: July 18+19, 2010
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Eric emailed me again, telling me more about his monkeys. Eric wrote: Pet Monkeys "My monkeys, Ronnie and Reggie, would be thankful for being on your website. They were great pets. The guy and his son who owned the most famous pet shot in Edinburgh, in Fleshmarket close, wanted to buy them from me for years. His shop was a landmark in Edinburgh Old Town, going down the stairs from Cockburn Street to Market Street, passing the Halfway Hoose Pub. He was a great friend of our family. I told him that I would give him 'first refusal' if I were going to sell the monkeys, but I never sold them. The monkeys were well trained and amusing animals. I even took them into the Halfway Hoose Pub, where they were eating all the nuts. They caught two big rats in the cellar. The landlord said he had been after these rats for years without any luck, until I brought the monkeys in. It took them about ten minutes to catch the rats. Eventually, I had to give the monkeys up in Chile to a docker and his family, as the UK changed thier rules so that monkeys and other animals would no longer be allowed into the country." Eric Gold, East London: July 19+20, 2010 |
