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Aston Villa Trivia and the Onion Fair

W

Wakadowakado

Guest
How many historians know about the connections of ASTON VILLA F.C. and the lion beast?. It is evident that it was featured as a logo on their woollen
jerseys as early as 1880. Interestingly at the Onion Fair in the Aston Brook culvert an escaped animal was recaptured from a caged site in 1899. Some
twenty-five years later 'Nero' another lion was returned to his cage in 1924 after eescaping. Maybe the Lions are roaring again in 2009! WAK
 
My late mother remembered Nero - it went down in history as 'The Day The Lion Escaped'. She was about 13 at the time, and according to her it was re-captured hiding in the porch of Aston Church and was a poor old flea-bitten beast hardly able to put up a fight.

The Villa don't need to roar too loudly if opposing goalies keep scoring for them.....!

Big Gee
 
Waka Big Gee was there another lion because by the time I was born and a nipper the story went that a lion had been shot?. Must ask John Houghton as he has all the history on that event. Jean.
 
I think I'll treat myself to that book, Lloyd. It seems like a good read. If anyone had asked me, I'd have said that the last Onion Fair was before 1968, but obviously not. When I was a nipper I'd spend hours (and all my pocket-money) on the .22 Winchester shooting-gallery - and I got good, too!

I can also remember the vicar of our local church (All Souls, Witton) exhorting the younger members of his flock not to spend evenings at the Onion Fair....some hope!

Big Gee
 
Hi Everybody, I enjoyed the contributions- sounds a bit like Doris Day - Annie get your gun
Who remembers that golden girl?- and the Black Hills of Dakota -WAKADAYS
 
May I say thank you very much for your historical contributions in respect of the Onion
Fairs -WAK
 
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