PEARLY KINGS & QUEENS.

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kiwi
Posts: 4802
Joined: Sat Jan 14, 2017 2:53 am

PEARLY KINGS & QUEENS.

Postby kiwi » Sun Feb 26, 2017 10:59 pm

The very first Pearly King is accepted to have been Henry Croft, an orphan and street sweeper. In the mid- to late 1870s Croft completely covered his suit in mother-of-pearl buttons, creating the first pearly ‘smother’ suit. He did this to draw attention to himself when collecting money for orphanages and hospitals and so the pearly mission to support charitable organisations was born.

But being a pearly is not just about wearing the costume, it is about a lifelong commitment to work tirelessly to raise money for charity. These days the Pearlies have divided into several organisations, however, all still have charity work at their heart.

d041bb25e125485b8372ae4e36c64742_r.jpg
1938 Pearly Kings & Queens along with their children attend a service at St Mary Magdalene Church, Old Kent Road.
PEARLY.jpg
Last edited by kiwi on Thu May 20, 2021 10:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.

kiwi
Posts: 4802
Joined: Sat Jan 14, 2017 2:53 am

Re: PEARLY KINGS & QUEENS.

Postby kiwi » Mon Aug 20, 2018 1:56 am

Purley Kings and Queens At Rolls Road Estate, Rolls Road Bermondsey.jpg
Purley Kings and Queens at Rolls Road Estate, Rolls Road Bermondsey.
Pearly King, Tooley Street, Southwark, London. 1995.  X.png
Pearly King, Tooley Street, Southwark, 1995

kiwi
Posts: 4802
Joined: Sat Jan 14, 2017 2:53 am

Re: PEARLY KINGS & QUEENS.

Postby kiwi » Sat Sep 28, 2019 12:22 am

Pearly Kings & Queens, Darby & Joan Meal, Rotherhithe c1960.  X.png
Pearly Kings & Queens, Darby & Joan Meal, Rotherhithe c1960.

kiwi
Posts: 4802
Joined: Sat Jan 14, 2017 2:53 am

Re: PEARLY KINGS & QUEENS.

Postby kiwi » Mon Oct 28, 2019 1:23 am

Pearly Kings & Queens 1947.  X (2).png
Pearly Kings & Queens 1947.

kiwi
Posts: 4802
Joined: Sat Jan 14, 2017 2:53 am

Re: PEARLY KINGS & QUEENS.

Postby kiwi » Sat Mar 06, 2021 4:59 am

Chatham Street c1958. The Lady Margaret's Church left. It seems that the 'Pearly King & Queen were attending the church for a harvest festival, hence the food offering.
Chatham Street c1958 The Lady Margaret's Church left. It seems that the 'Pearly King & Queen were attending the church for a harvest festival, hence the food offering.  X.png

kiwi
Posts: 4802
Joined: Sat Jan 14, 2017 2:53 am

Re: PEARLY KINGS & QUEENS.

Postby kiwi » Fri Jun 17, 2022 8:40 am

Mrs P Ramswell, the original  Pearly Queen of Southwark, collecting for the blind at London Bridge Station c1932.  1  X..jpg
Mrs P Ramswell, the original " Pearly Queen of Southwark " collecting for the blind at London Bridge Station c1932.

kiwi
Posts: 4802
Joined: Sat Jan 14, 2017 2:53 am

Re: PEARLY KINGS & QUEENS.

Postby kiwi » Sun Sep 24, 2023 3:22 am

St Mary Magdalene's Church no longer there.
1.  Pearly Kings and Queens, Old Kent Road for the annual service at St Mary Magdalene's Church in Massinger Street, c1951.  X..png
Pearly Kings and Queens, Old Kent Road for the annual service at St Mary Magdalene's Church in Massinger Street, c1951.
1 OLD KENT ROAD.     X..png
OLD KENT ROAD.

kiwi
Posts: 4802
Joined: Sat Jan 14, 2017 2:53 am

Re: PEARLY KINGS & QUEENS.

Postby kiwi » Sun Feb 11, 2024 3:59 am

Old Kent Road, St. Mary Magdalen Church 1951, seven-year-old Mavis Hughes, pearly princess of Acton, arrives for the Costers' Harvest Thanksgiving service.
1.  Old Kent Road, St. Mary Magdalen Church 1951, seven-year-old Mavis Hughes, pearly princess of Acton, arrives for the Costers' Harvest Thanksgiving service.  X..png


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