Inter-Livery companies of London came together on Shrove Tuesday to celebrate by participating in their annual pancake day race held in Guildhall Yard.
Originally set up by the Master Poulter of the Worshipful Company of Poulters, the event has been running for 22 years and hosts four types of races.
Livery companies are trade companies that originally came together to form a guild which would then receive a Royal Charter from the reigning monarch. Fruiterers, Clockmakers and Butchers are just some of the competing Liveries.
The event raises money for the Lady Mayor Dame Susan Langley’s chosen charities that for this year were The Lady Mayor’s appeal and The Master Poulter’s Pelican Trust.
The rules are simple: contestants must wear their gown, an apron, a chef’s hat, gloves and any costume at all times. They must flip their pancake once in the designated area and again on their return – making sure they go around the bollard at the end, clockwise.
The fourth race is the ‘Novelty Race’ where participants are required to dress up for the fun, with the theme this year being their own Livery company or a nod to the chosen charities.
The best costume prize was awarded to a participant from the Tobacco Pipe Makers and Tobacco Blenders who was dressed as London’s very own Tower Bridge.
To pull the event together, the Fruiterers supplied the lemons, the Glovers the gloves, the Cooks the chef’s hats and the cannon to begin the races was provided by the Gunmakers.
Watch the video below for more on the event.
Featured image credit: Finley Adams
