John Rendall: Socialite who bought lion from Harrods and walked it around London dies aged 76
msn.comChelsea after buying a pet lion from Harrods and walking him around London, has died aged 76. The Australian-born socialite shot to fame after he and his friend Anthony “Ace” Bourke bought the cub called Christian in the 1960s from the upmarket department store which sold exotic pets at the time for 290 guineas.
Christian became a familiar sight around west London on his walks by Mr Rendall and the cub was even introduced at glamorous parties to stars of the day including Mia Farrow and George Lazenby.
The cub lived with Rendall in his flat above his furniture store, Sophistocat, but was returned to the wild in 1970 after outgrowing the apartment.
Footage of the socialite’s bid to be reunited with his former pet a year later went viral after resurfacing online 13 years ago.
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