Our association originated in 1875 and many of our families can track back their history to this date.
The Pearly Kings and Queens give their time for free to raise funds for nominated charities to provide to others a better way of living
and to support those who are in need of help.
We are a London institution and can often be found singing cockney songs and raising money at London based events.
Henry Croft (1862 to 1930) the founder of the organisation was born in 1862 and was raised in a Victorian workhouse orphanage in Charles Street, Somerstown, St, Pancras. At the age of thirteen he left the orphanage and became a road sweeper and rat catcher. Henry soon felt at home in his new position and became akin to the Costermongers (apple sellers) in their “flash boy outfits,” on the stalls in the markets.
The clothes the Costers wore were decorated with a row of pearl buttons each the size of a penny down the outside leg seam of their trousers from the ankle to the knee, the pocket flaps on their waistcoats and the front of their caps would be decorated in a similar fashion.
The Costermongers were a tough resilient and colourful breed and had a language of their own, hence the cockney rhyming slang, they were also a caring bunch and if a fellow coster was down on his luck they would organise a” whip round” to help him get back on his feet.
The Pearly Kings and Queens raise funds for nominated charities to provide to others a better way of living and to support those who are in need of help.
Here are some of the principle charities supported by the Original Pearly Kings and Queens Asssociation.
The Pearly Kings and Queens raise funds for nominated charities to provide to others a better way of living and to support those who are in need of help.
Here are some of the principle charities supported by the Original Pearly Kings and Queens Asssociation.
The Pearly Kings and Queens raise funds for nominated charities to provide to others a better way of living and to support those who are in need of help. Here are some of the principle charities supported by the Original Pearly Kings and Queens Asssociation in 2008/2009
Find out the latest on where and when the Pearly Kings and Queens will be appearing.
They regularly appear at charity events across London and home counties and also celebrate Harvest Festival at St.Martins-In-The-Fields London. See the latest events below
There are no upcoming events at this time
Leytonstone Ex-Servicemens Club
Harvey Rd, Leytonstone,
London E11 3DB
10:00 AM – 22.00 PM
Monday – Sunday
Phone: 020 8539 2954
Email: linda_mmurphy@btinternet.com
If you want to have a Pearly King or Pearly Queen at your function or would like to know more about the Pearlies, please complete the below form.
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