This original press photograph shows Churchill feeding Rota at the London Zoo in 1947.
Measures approx: 8″ x 10″

The verso bears the copyright stamp of “Kemsley Picture Service, Kemsley House, London WC1” and the following text:

CHURCHILL VISITS LONDON ZOO. WHITE-DEVON. 10 SEP 47.

Photo Shows: Mr Winston Churchill photographed today at the London Zoo when he visited the albino kangaroo “Digger” presented to him and the lion “Rota”.

The story of Churchill  & Rota goes like this: in 1938 George Thomson, who worked at Rotaprint, won a lion in a bet. He named the lion “Rota”. Despite the neighbors feeling a little unsettled at the thought of a lion housed nearby with the onset of  WWII, (what’s if a bomb hit the cage and Rota got loose?) it was not until May 1940 that Rota was transferred to the safe keeping of the London Zoo. Presumable the Zoo had better resources to feed the lion, meat being severely rationed during wartime.

Differing versions exist as to how/why Rota ‘became’ Churchill’s in 1943. Some say it was a gesture to commemorate Churchill’s victories in North Africa, and this seems appropriate.

Rota was mentioned in many newspapers, cartoons and even several movies. He died in 1955 and somehow ended up in Florida in the Lightner Museum in St. Augustine, Florida. If anyone has updated information please let me know.

Condition: Glossy clean photograph in Excellent Condition.

The figurine, WINSTON The Lion Tamer by Harmony Kingdom is said to depict Churchill & Rota.

Item #1076