Doing the Lambeth Walk

Pearly Queen of Old Kent Road, Doreen Golding

Our hospitality season kicked off with an 'oi' yesterday as CWC members joined Pearly Queen Doreen Golding in song. No, we didn't get up to do the Lambeth Walk, but we had a go at helping her with the chorus, especially the 'oi' bit - and there were smiles and laughs all round.

There was much admiration too, as Doreen gave us an insight into her life as Pearly Queen of Old Kent Road. Quite apart from the juicy bits of news about some of the celebrities Doreen has met over the years, we learned the meaning of 'costermongers', why pearl buttons were used as decoration, the different symbols sewn onto their suits, and how the titles of Pearly King and Queen are handed down through the generations. We also learned about the wonderful charity work carried out by Doreen and other 'Pearlies'.

Doreen's visit to the CWC will no doubt be a highlight of our year. And because Doreen is such a good friend of long-time CWC member Vi Knight, perhaps we'll all meet again - on the Old Kent Road!

From left: Teresa Howe, Doreen Golding, Patty Bell, Vi Knight

Any time you’re Lambeth way

Any evening, any day,

You’ll find us all

Doin’ the Lambeth walk - oi!

Ev’ry little Lambeth gal

With her little Lambeth pal,

You’ll find ‘em all

Doin’ the Lambeth walk - oi!

Ev’rything free and easy,

Do as you darn well pleasey,

Why don’t you make your way there?

Go there, stay there,

Once you get down Lambeth way

Ev’ry evening, ev’ry day,

You’ll find yourself

Doin’ the Lambeth walk - oi!

Visit to Buckingham Palace

Although the gorgeously sumptuous state rooms of Buckingham Palace have been open to the public during August and September since 1993, and although I’ve visited most royal palaces in every other European country I’ve visited, I’ve never before made the effort to do the summer opening tour of the Palace’s state rooms right here in my own city of London. Thankfully, this year’s special exhibition on Queen & Commonwealth: The Royal Tour, prompted our President, Teresa Howe, to organise tickets – and the visit did not disappoint!

Celebrating the 60th anniversary of the London Declaration of 1949, which recognised the British Sovereign as Head of the Commonwealth, the exhibition featured gifts presented to the Queen, as well as a fantastic display of dresses and gowns worn on various tours – including several worn in Canada. We all delighted at seeing the incredibly beautiful sequined and beaded maple leafs sewn into one of her gowns, and smiled at seeing the gold-plated hockey puck, featuring Canada’s Rocket Richard and presented to the Queen in 1952.

The tour of the Palace takes in all the state rooms, including the Ballroom, the State Dining Room, the Blue and Green and White Drawing Rooms, and more, finishing at the steps into the Palace’s enormous and peaceful garden from the West Front – where a group of us stopped for a cup of tea, a light lunch and a chance to compare notes on what we had seen. A re-energising break before visiting the shop!

Unfortunately, photography is not permitted inside the Palace, but you can have a look at what you missed by visiting the Royal Collection’s website.



Many thanks to Teresa for organising such a nice day out!

Submitted by Barbara Richards