Ferret correctly predicts hat-trick of Moderator Designates

April 2015

A ferret is being tipped as a future pundit after correctly predicting the next Moderator of the Free Church of Scotland on three consecutive years.

Frankie the ferret was found abandoned on the Royal Mile and was taken in and cared for by Free Church ministry students and office staff in Edinburgh.

Its talent for Moderatorial appointments was discovered when a press officer left nominations papers in a meeting room, and Frankie gnawed through the supporting references of the winning candidate.

The ferret has now scooped a hat trick of correct predictions for Moderator Designate – Rev Angus J. Howat, Rev David Miller and Rev David Robertson.

Frankie has become something of a cult figure in the denomination, and has even featured as a poster pull-out in the Free Church children’s magazine.

Latterly the ferret also starred as an honorary member of a praise band called the Ferretones.

A Free Church of Scotland spokesman said: “We are somewhat bemused by Frankie’s uncanny ability to predict future Free Church Moderators.

“At first we thought Rev Angus Howat was a fluke, but sure enough we then had David Miller and now David Robertson.

“Perhaps we will have a call from a broadcaster looking for an animal pundit to predict the winner of May’s general election.”

The media world has been lacking an animal pundit since the passing of Paul the Octopus in 2010 – who used to give the winners of football games, most notably at the World Cup in South Africa.