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PEARLY KINGS & QUEENS.

Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2017 10:59 pm
by kiwi
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.

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1938 Pearly Kings & Queens along with their children attend a service at St Mary Magdalene Church, Old Kent Road.
PEARLY.jpg

Re: PEARLY KINGS & QUEENS.

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2018 1:56 am
by kiwi
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

Re: PEARLY KINGS & QUEENS.

Posted: Sat Sep 28, 2019 12:22 am
by kiwi
Pearly Kings & Queens, Darby & Joan Meal, Rotherhithe c1960.  X.png
Pearly Kings & Queens, Darby & Joan Meal, Rotherhithe c1960.

Re: PEARLY KINGS & QUEENS.

Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2019 1:23 am
by kiwi
Pearly Kings & Queens 1947.  X (2).png
Pearly Kings & Queens 1947.

Re: PEARLY KINGS & QUEENS.

Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2021 4:59 am
by kiwi
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

Re: PEARLY KINGS & QUEENS.

Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2022 8:40 am
by kiwi
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.

Re: PEARLY KINGS & QUEENS.

Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2023 3:22 am
by kiwi
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.

Re: PEARLY KINGS & QUEENS.

Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2024 3:59 am
by kiwi
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