The Pearly Prince of St Pancras

by Alf Dole, Jeff Hudson (Contributor)

Pearly Kings and Queens are one of the quintessential icons of 'old London', originally invented to imitate and parody wealthy West End society but also to raise money for charities and good causes. Alf Dole lived his life in this tradition and was the grandson of the very first Pearly King of St Pancras. Born in 1930, Alf grew up in a close-knit family of costermongers - fruit and veg sellers - and his heartwarming memoir recounts London life in the city in a time of horses and trams, pubs where sing-alongs around the piano happened every weekend and summers were spent hop-picking in Kent. When war came along, Alf was evacuated to Wales, where he continued to wear his pearly suit and entertained the locals by playing the spoons. After the war he continued to sell fruit and veg, working in Chapel market. He also had his own sea food stalls outside public houses.

Capturing the camaraderie of working in London's street markets in the middle of the 20thcentury and surviving the Second World War, Alf's memoir also serves as an important slice of social history from a time when working-class communities were proud to celebrate their traditions. Sadly Alf died just after completing his story but his daughter Diane, herself a Pearly Princess, is continuing the family custom in fine tradition.

295 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 19, 2014

Reviews

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a smashing read, nice and simply told in the man's own words. The memoir of a Cockney lad whose dad was one of the first Pearly Kings had to be worth reading. Alf Dole was nine when WW2 broke out, and we get his childhood, with characters, hard times, greengrocers and hopping in Kent. Come the war we see his and his siblings' evacuation to Wales, then return and settling in for the long haul in bombed London.

We get the entertaining and fund raising aspect; the first Pearly was Henry Croft, who inspired other friends like Alf's dad to dress in the pearl buttons and collect for hospitals or local people down on their luck. Young Alf was presented with his first button-adorned suit and helped to entertain. But he put that aside during wartime and after it for many years, later returning to his heritage in part to share it with his family.

How unlikely is it that as I was reading this during the ad breaks in Mock The Week, the programme showed a clip of Alf talking to Boris Johnson and David Cameron! This little episode is referred to in the book as I found when I finished it next day.

Thanks to all concerned for sharing this memoir and heritage with the world. I particularly enjoyed the tales of the hopping days but we also see a side of London which vanished with the rebuilding after the war.

[Kim R · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book broaden my knowledge of St Pancreas. My family used to live there & it definitely helped me understand their culture.

[Rico Caraco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best account of the blitz I've read. Great snapshot of pre and WW2- era London, its markets and its people. Long live the Pearlies!