Vicki Michelle w&p
The Pearlies of St Pancras had Five days of fun and book signing at W&P also catching up with friends. Allo allo our china plate Vickie Michelle.
On Thursday 19th June 2014 dads book was published, I was in London being interviewed on B.B.C Radio London by Robert Elms. Robert and me had a great banter about Pearlies, Hopping and old London - thanks Robert interesting to hear about your family being Costers and your London roots.
A couple of months before Dad passed away in 2013 he gave the biographer Jeff Hudson a marathon ride through the old, and largely forgotten, times of life on the streets of Somerstown and St.Pancras during the late 1930s and wartime years - here's the fun filled result for everyone to enjoy.
Alf Dole, Pearly King of St Pancras
It is with great sadness to say that Alf Dole, Pearly King of St Pancras, passed away on Monday 13th May 2013. In recent years Alf became an icon in Greenwich every Sunday with his Pearly cab, raising fun and funds for his charity great Ormond Street Childrens hospital. Alf was a people person and cared deeply about those less well off than him. He was at his happiest singing the old songs and playing his spoons (one of his nicknames was 'Alfie Spoon') which certainly raised spirits and put smiles on others faces.
Alf's grandson Lee has taken up his Grandad's mantle, and is now the fifth generation of the family to take the throne - Lee's great great grandad, George Dole, being the first pearly King of St Pancras back in the 1890s.
Lee the new Pearly King of St Pancras
Lee is now taking the tradition into a whole new field - as the only Pearly Pro Golfer on the UK and European professional golf circuit and is looking to link up with some corporate sponsors to help raise fun and funds.
Video of Alf Dole, former Pearly King of St Pancras doing his weekly collecting with the original pearly cab in Greenwich, London.
Alf gets to have a rabbit with his china's, Boris and Dave at Leadenhall Market in London during the 2010 elections. The Mayor of London and our future PM both listened closely to Alf's Pearly wisdom on matters of state. The showing of the three of them on the popular TV show 'Mock the Week' below gives some great one-liners whilst Alf is little disappointed that his advice is given a slightly different spin!
Why not come along to see Alf at Greenwich Market (he's there most Sunday mornings) and he can tell you what really passed between between him and these two wily old Costermongers of State!
For definitions please see the Cockney Rhyming Slang Glossary.
Alf with Boris in Leadenhall Market, City of London