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Welcome to my website
The most common question I get asked nowdays is what is a Pearly and what do we do. In this website I hope to Answer all your question about Londons Cockney Royals
Pearly History
Pearly Kings and Queens are a symbol of Cockney London. The tradition was started by Henry Croft in 1875. He was an orphan and worked on a market. He had always been fascinated by the costermongers (fruit and veg sellers) and the way they decorated their outfits to stand out in the market.
They wore pearl buttons on the seams of their clothes. They were also looking after each other, always having a "whip round" if one of them needed help. Henry admired this and decided to try and collect money for his orphanage. For this, he had to attract attention to himself, so he decided to cover his whole suit in pearl buttons. In the years that followed, he was approached by hospitals and churches to raise money for the poor. By the time he died, around 1930, he had raised more than £5000 (more than £200,000 in today’s terms).
Each London borough has its Pearly King and Queen, continuing the Pearly tradition of fundraising and working for charity. The Pearly motto is "One never knows." If you want to catch all of them at once, make your way to St Martin-in-the-Fields, in Trafalgar Square either on the first Sunday of October, for the Harvest Festival Service, or on the third Sunday in May, when Pearlies celebrate Henry Croft’s birthday. You’ll be dazzled by more than just the suits!
Our Pearly FamilyHistory
In 1911 Uncle Fred Tinsley was Crowned Pearly King of Southwark, he's wife Mary was My Mothers Aunt, and the title of Camberwell was handed to my Parents by Uncle Fred who made them the Original Pearly King and Queen of Camberwell.
I was born down East street just orf the
Old Kent Road Sarf London for as long as I can Remember I have been in pearls. Mum & Dad were both the Genuine & Original Pearly King & Queen of Camberwell, both not with us now
( Gawd Bless Em )
they were true pearlies with a heart of Gold good.
My Dad died in 1976 and I took on the title of Pearly king of Camberwell of which I’m still proud to hold till this day
And till the day I kick the bucket!
As young Pearly Prince I Love to go on Events with them, I can still see the smiling faces of people long gone now.who we used to take them on Beano's down to the seaside in the early 60's
One man will always stay in memory for as long as i live, was Old Steptoe, i think he's real name was Joe, He was a proud Chelsea Pensioner, we would go to visit him at the Royal Hospital Chelsea on a regular basis , i looked forward to my visits to see the Pensioners and i still do to this day, i was at the Hospital last St George's Day, Entertaining them with songs from the Good Old Days, It was a great night down the Hen & Chicken public house in Alvey street just off the East Lane.
Pearly kings & Queens would come from all over London to go meetings that was held there for the Original Pearly Guild.
Recently the title of Pearly King of Bermondsey was added to my Family title In November 2008 for two reasons one was that Bermondsey have not had cockney royalty for a long time and living on the Dickens Estate in Bermondsey In the borough of Southwark and thought it was about time this area of South London Deserved to represented by Pearlies. secondly I fed up with Pearlies and plastic pearlies from out side my Borough of Southwark Laying claims to Titles that they should not have. (Stick to your own bleeding area)
And In some cases don’t deserve to have. Being proud of my Cockney culture I frown on anyone who brings it in to dispute.
Over the years many charities have benefited by London’s
Pearly Kings and Queens and we have raised thousand upon thousands for them. and it makes me sad when some bad apples un do all the good work done by Genuine & Original Pearlies over the last 134 years
ENOUGH SAID
The cockney walk for help for heroes was organised by Pearlykingjim and the original pearly kings and queens association to help our boys and girls in the armed forces,Who have been injured while serving for queen and country,
Being the first one we did not know what to expect ,Will people turn up will the public be generous ,Well on both counts it was better than expected 25 pearlies turned up in all their splendour.
We had the honour of the Chelsea pensioners, The Green Hacker pipe band were marvellous And so was the chaps from khaki on parade
The pearly angels who was made up from friends and family were just outstanding with their enthusiastic approach to collect for such a good cause
The mayor of Southwark turned out to see us off
The vicar of St James church Bermondsey blessed the event,And our main sponsor Mr Barry Albin of F.A Albin & sons,Did us proud and even the Mayors of westminister was the at the end to greet us we would like to thank John and all the staff at the gunmakers in ayrbrook street marylebone for the £2.000.00p donation
what a star this man is, and to Keith Joyner and Staff down in Ilderton Road Bermondsey for all te suport and donation secial thanks Young Jordan keiths son who drove the truck all through the walk and last but not least all who took part without you we couldnot have the cockney walkt, thank the public of this great city who dug deep in to their pocket and help to make the day a great day for Help for Heroes a staggering £10.538.00p is so far accounted for and we Estimate the final count to be
£12.000.00p when the rest of the sponsorship comes in
Once again a big Cockney thank you and here’s to next years 2010 Cockney walk.
EASTENDERS DO THE COCKNEY WALK FOR HELP FOR HEROES
Maddie Duggan who plays Lauren in Eastenders A Little Bermondsey star with a heart of gold with Gracie May my Little Princess of Camberwell & Bermondsey
PLEASE VISIT MY OTHER WEBSITE WHILST THIS ONE IS FULLY UPDATED CLICK HERE www.genuinelondonpearlykingsandqueens.co.uk
7 September 2009
John Prendergast
johnp@southwarknews.org
Genuine & Original Pearly Kings And Queens Association
And The Gold Hearted Londoners, Walk For Our Heroes
Pearly Kings, Queens, soldiers and well wishers joined forces for a charity walk last Thursday, seeking to raise £10,000 for the Help for Heroes charity.
Jim Jukes, Pearly King of Camberwell and Bermondsey, was joined by Kings and Queens from all over the capital, to back his fundraising efforts.
About 100 people in all set off from Potter’s Field near City Hall, and strode off in the direction of Tower Bridge, before heading towards the City with buckets for collecting cash.
Mr Jukes said: "It started out as an effort to raise a couple of hundred quid, but everybody I asked to help has said yes and it has just grown from that.
"Everybody has been great and we want to raise £10,000. If this goes well we will do it again and make it a bigger event."
Bermondsey funeral director Barry Albin-Dyer sponsored the event and told the 'News': "It is not just about supporting the soldiers, but also the
families, who after all give their children to these wars.
"When soldiers come back injured we need to give them support and if I can do that in any way I will have had a good day."
Two 21-year-old soldiers, who both served in Iraq, also took part in the walk. Matt Maccoll of the 4th Battalion Rifles was injured when a roadside bomb exploded while on patrol.
He said: "I think it is amazing that these people make this effort and put their hand in their pocket to help us, but really the government should be doing this and supporting us as well."
Eddie Guile, a Guardsman in the 1st Battalion Irish Guards, has noticed a change in attitude towards soldiers who served in Iraq.
He added: "When you look back at how people reacted to you if you told them you were a soldier it really has changed. Now things such as Help for Heroes seems to have caught people's minds and you do get treated in a different manner and that is a good thing."
The Mayor of Southwark, Cllr Jeff Hook, also turned up to support the event, and he has nominated the soldiers’ support fund as his chosen charity this year.
He said: "Southwark News is supporting the charity and I am as well, so it should do well out of Southwark this year. It really doesn't matter what you think about war, we should be supporting these guys who come back with injuries."
Pearlykingjim as a young Prince on the Beufoy school f;oat for the mayors.childrens cavalade in 1969 the headlines of the day in the London evening news "Pearly Jimmy Leads the fun"
and we did with taking the first prize with our Lambeth Walk theme.
40 years on, dont time fly 2010 New years Day Parade
Southwark entry for The New Years Day parade 2010
London-wide competition known as'The Let's Help London Challenge'. It has been a few years since the borough last entered a float in the contest. The period pub, which is the brainchild of the Pearly King of Camberwell and Bermondsey, Jim Jukes, comes with its own bar complete with pumps, army helmet, Union Jacks, old-fashioned piano, framed photo of King George VI, and other memorabilia.
Jim, of Jamaica Road in Bermondsey, who works as a singer/entertainer, said the finished float was the result of a month's labour of love. He said he was "One hundred per cent passionate" about the project, which he hopes will raise lots of cash for wounded servicemen across the country. "Help for Heroes has been my charity for eighteen months now, after a friend of mine got blown up in Iraq a couple of years ago," he said.Up to 40 people, including serving soldiers and other servicemen will be representing Southwark, with a selection dressing for the occasion. Winston Churchill and a few "ladies of the night" are expected to make an appearance at the pub, Mr Jukes said.The float had been stored at the Town Hall while the Pearly King worked single-handedly on putting it all together. Sonia Sutton from the mayor's office, who witnessed the progress, said: "The more I see it, I'm just more and more impressed. I'm telling you it's superb.” Jim said: "I'm 100 per cent confident that we can win this. If I wasn't I wouldn't have done it. We've entered to win as much money as we can for Help the Heroes.”The New Year's Day Parade kicks off at 12pm on Berkeley Street in W1. More than 10,000 performers representing 20 countries worldwide are expected.
Sir Barry Albin (In my Opinion) The Bermondsey Knight
Dont drop the coffin
Christmas memorial Service
As a guest of Barry.At F.A Albin Head office on Wednesday 2nd December 2009 ,
although it was a wet and windy night it did not stop the locals
From turning out in force to show there appreciation for all the hard work
Barry and all the staff put in to make this a monumental night.
It gave us all time to remember our loved ones at this time of year its was sad
#but then the smiles broke through as a great community came together ,
To sing Christmas carols it warmed the cockles of yer heart I tell Ya! .
My Grandson Jimmy is buried in the memorial garden,
and I know that he is well looked after by F.A Albins.
Im very proud to live in Bermondsey and im proud to be its Pearly King
But the proudest moment for me would be to see Barry Albin Knighted
For all the work he as done for the people of this great South London Hamlet.
What a coo to get the Princess Royal to Attend with all the other dignitaries’
It just goes to show the respect this man Has
So come on your majesty get the sword out of the cupboard
and give Barry the Knighthood he deserves in this Years Honours list
PS and Jackie should be made a Dame what a nice Lady. |
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HENRY CROFT FOUNDER OF LONDON'S PEARLY KINGS & QUEENS
PEARLYKINGJIM TOUR OF COCKNEY LONDON
COCKNEY WALK FOR HELP FOR HEROES 2009 THE ORIGINAL PEARLY KINGS AND QUEENS ASSOCIATION
GAWD BLESS EM!
POOR ANNETTE KNACKERED ANDONLY WALK 100 YARDS
LOVE HER!
PHOTO SHOOT OUTSIDE THE GUNMAERS
AYBROOK STREET JOHN THE GUVNOR HANDED OVER A CHEQUE FOR A STAGGERING £2.00000P
FOR HELP FOR HEROES
TOP MAN (JOHN'S IN THE GREY SHIRT)
DOLLY BOYLAN -IAN- DEBBIE BOYLAN
SMITTEN WITH ONE OF OUR HEORES
IAN IS NOW OUT IN AFGANISTAN
ALL THE BEST OF COCKNEY LUCK MATE!
PEARLYKINGJIM- MATT-BARRY ALBIN-EDDIIE
MY ADOPTED GOD SON NOW WE SACKED BILLY FOWLER AND MY BEST MUCKER WAYNE
GRACIE MAY SYMMS PEARLY PRINCESS
GEORGINA MY LITTLE PRINCESS JUKES
MY OTHER HALF DEBBIE THE GOOD UN
AND JAN EDDIE MY GOD SONS MUM
The Photo's Above
Where All Taken On
The Cockney Walk
For Help For Heroes
27th August 2009
YOU CAN CONTACT ME ON THE DOG & BONE
07984-278939
OR E-MAIL
pearlykingjim@yahoo.co.uk
THE HOFF MEETS THE PEARLIES
Mum & Me at the New Cross senior Citizens Home 1963
Mum & Dad Game of Arrows
Duke of Sussex Pub Waterloo
1960's
Germany 2009
Royal Hospital Chelsea
St George's Day 2009
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