Site: Street Cat Bob (1 memorial)
N1, Islington Green
In 2007, as a homeless person living in supported housing, James Bowen was befriended by ginger cat Bob, who needed Bowen's help. Bowen was spotted outside Angel station busking and selling the Big Issue with Bob on his shoulder. He was featured by the local paper, the Islington Tribune, and this led to a book deal. Bowen had started writing the stories about Bob in the Waterstones bookshop which can be seen in our photo, behind the bench.
Time Out wrote: "Bowen met Bob in 2007 when he spent his last £30 paying for the stray to see a vet. He credits the ginger tom cat with rescuing him from living rough and weaning him off heroin."
The Big Issue wrote: "The series of books published by Hodder and Stoughton, which began with A Street Cat Named Bob in 2012, have sold more than eight million copies in more than 40 languages and been adapted into two films starring Luke Treadaway as James opposite Bob (as himself)."
