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Golden Days: 1946 - 1960

21 October 2019

University

The immediate post-war years marked a sharp decline in Mascotry and general jollity around the university. But things began to pick up sharply when Guy’s Hospital (with the famous Stuffed Gorilla Which No-one Has Ever Seen Mascot) stole Reggie, and a long march was required to get him back. Then, at the Foundation Games of 19 March 1947, Reggie suffered severe damage at the hands of UCL when unfortunately, there were not enough students to protect him. His manhood was removed with a can-opener. Sad times indeed for a lion who could once count on the unquestioning support of thousands. Over the summer of that year, a small group of dedicated Engineers battled to restore him, but lacking funds, were unable to completely repair the damage. In December that same year, King’s students took Phineas and strung him up from the nearest lamppost.

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Image: Phineas MacLino, UCL mascot, carried joyously by UCL Mascoteers (UCL Archives)

In 1948, a sub-committee of the Engineering Society was appointed to overhaul Reggie. They did most of the work themselves, but had help from the College to pay for what they could not afford. Various pieces of accumulated junk were removed from Reggie’s stomach, including a hoard of rotten apples.

To prevent his being stolen ever again, Reggie was filled with concrete, and given a new base on which to stand, and a small trolley to get around. However, UCL still managed to take revenge by stealing Reggie and burying him on Hampstead Heath. But his tomb was discovered, an exhumation took place and the Lion roared again!

At the beginning of the 1950s, Queen Mary, Imperial College London and the London School of Economics (LSE) joined the Mascotry wars. Reggie and Phineas both spent time being sent around the UK. Between 1950 and 1952 Queen Mary students sent Reggie to a hotel in Inverness, Blackpool Tower, where he visited the Zoo, and Manchester University. King’s Engineers went on many adventures to rescue Reggie, and eventually the Union Society passed a motion stating that the Engineers were to be the Official Guardians of HRH Reggie.

Phineas was stolen by unknown mascoteers and put on a train. UCL eventually recovered him from the Left Luggage Office at Newcastle Central Station.