Russell is not Square

David Crout Associate Director for Student Services

Date

April 1, 2015
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As you're probably aware, Russell Square in Bloomsbury was renamed recently in honour of our own Director of Operations, Russell Peplow, in return for his many years of selfless service to the local community.

Known for his compassion, tireless charitable work and his signature comedy hairstyle, it's a little known fact that Russell was instrumental in bringing about the local bye-law that allowed cats to graze in the squares of Bloomsbury and for abolishing the bye-law which meant that locals had to stand, salute and sing the national anthem whenever a traditional London bus went by (with which Russell's failure to comply led to his now famous incarceration in '93).

Born at the height of hippy swinging 60s, Russell 'Moonchild' Peplow, was raised on a commune in Rishikesh, before moving to the mean streets of Guildford in Surrey, where he overcame the disadvantages of  his comfortable suburban upbringing, finally securing a place at the University of Greater Billericay where he achieved an upper third in Cat Herding.

A brief career in the RAF ended when he discovered he had a fear of heights, loud noises and machinery, and his attention then turned to the thorny issue of cat grazing, the area in which he established his now famous reputation.

The official renaming ceremony is a proud moment for Russell, and his 17 cats.

 

(We are sorry for our terrible April Fools. Russell is our Director of Operations and a compassionate human being. The rest, alas, we made up).