COSTER KING DIES

Hokitika Guardian, 9 January 1930, Page 6

COSTER KING DIES

HIS PEARLY RIG-OUT. United Press Association. —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) LONDON, January 7. The “Pearly Kings” throughout England are mourning the death ol the Premier Pearly King of the world Harry Croft, of Euston, who had held the title for half a century. He was presented to King Edward and Queen Alexandria when he was the only Pearly King in England. Now there are two hundred. Croft, just before his death, completed a coat f three tliusand pearl buttons. He had thirty-two thousand on an evening dress suit, which took two years to sew, two thousand being on his top hat ,and five hundred each on his stick, spats, and gloves. The buttons were insured for four hundred pounds. His funeral which was held at Finchley, was attended by every Coster Monarch of London, who all wore pearly dress, and also by their wives .wearing large hats with great coloured leathers, together with the little “princes,” and “princesses.” The “King’s” pearl-studded top hat rested on the coffin. A long procession moved through London to Finchley, followed by the Costers afoot and others in donkey carts. His pearly waistcoat was buried with him. Though he was the King in the Coster sphere, Croft carried out the lowly duties of street sweeping for forty years.