Unearthing London’s Past — and Winning Prizes — at the August Lunch!
Published on: 5 August 2025
On 1 August, during the August Younger Generation Court Lunch 2025, we were delighted to welcome Anne Fletcher, City of London guide and historian, for an insightful talk on the street urchins of Victorian London.
Despite the grim topic, Anne’s engaging storytelling brought the era to life, holding the attention of guests of all ages, including our younger attendees. She described the harsh realities of life in the 19th century, where children as young as five or six worked to support their families, often without any formal education, which wasn’t compulsory until the 1870s.
We heard about the appalling living conditions in the rookeries—crowded, unsanitary homes considered unfit by today’s standards—and the long waits for basic necessities like clean water. Yet there was hope: some children managed to learn trades like serving, hat making, or butchery, which gave them a chance to improve their circumstances.
Anne’s blend of historical insight and storytelling made the event both powerful and memorable.
As part of the event, we held a non-alcoholic champagne raffle, won by the Master’s granddaughter Elizabeth, much to everyone’s surprise and delight. The 200 Club draw also took place, with Liverymen Stuart Robson, Barry Chick, and Paul Kelly taking 3rd, 2nd, and 1st prizes respectively.
