Pub to hold wake for 'the most famous cat in Monmouthshire'

He was a fixture on the streets of Chepstow – a local character and “the most famous cat in Monmouthshire”. So now that Alfie ‘The Chepstow Cat’ has lost all of his nine lives at the grand old age of 19, hundreds of people have been paying tribute to him, and a local publican has organised a wake in his honour.

Alfie, who was regularly seen watching the world go by outside his home in Chepstow, south Wales, died peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday morning. His owner, Caroline Gammon, of Steep Street, said he had become a much-loved character in the town and brought a smile to passers-by as he sat on the corner of the street.



Ian Meyrick, landlord of the Coach and Horses pub in Welsh Street, is organising a wake for those who want to remember Alfie. He said: “Alfie is world famous. He would bask in the sun at the bottom of the street outside Merrick’s chemist and everyone would stop to say hello, from the elderly to bus drivers.

“He was so gentle and docile and a really lovely cat. Ms Gammon and her family are regular customers of mine and we all knew Alfie, so I decided to organise something where we can have a sing-song and pay tribute to him.” People are invited to attend the wake at the pub at 3pm on Sunday.