Jon and Josette: Pearly King and Queen of Walthamstow
Pearly Society
The Pearlies Harvest Festival
When: 28 Sep 2008 (annual)
Where: St Mary le Bow
Opening Hours: 12.30pm
Rating:
The second Harvest Festival of the Pearly Kings and Queens takes place at the church of St Mary Le Bow in Cheapside (there are two others). A parade precedes the event starting at Guildhall Yard with entertainment, marching bands, dancing, donkeys and carts, before moving to the church. Fruit and vegetables are given to the Whitechapel Mission for the Homeless.
"Down the battle cruiser I bumped into my china plates and got a bit elephants trunk." If this sounds vaguely like socialising with some distinctly un-sober friends in the pub, then you have either watched one Guy Ritchie film too many or you may well be acquainted with the Cockney rhyming slang traditionally associated with the Pearly Kings and Queens.
The history of the Pearlies is distinctly Dickensian. In 1862, an orphaned road sweeper and rat catcher called Henry Croft became friends with the Coster Mongers, a tough breed of market traders in Somers Town, who decorated their clothes with pearl buttons to distinguish themselves from the other traders. Altruistic Henry adopted the costume to draw attention to himself and his fund raising for the orphanage. He went on to inspire similar philanthropy in his friends and acquaintances and eventually there was a pearly family for every London borough and the pearly monarchy began.
The famous London organisation still has approximately 40 active families, fundraising for a variety of charities.
Tourist Office
Visit London
There are drop-in Tourist Information Centres in Victoria Station, Liverpool St Station, Heathrow near the underground and other venues around London. See their website for details.
Phone: +44 (0)20 7234 5800
Fax: +44 (0)20 7378 6525
