Big Red Book

Celebrating television's This Is Your Life

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THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Bert Matthews, Pearly King, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews - with the help of Kenneth Horne - on the stage of the BBC Television Theatre, having been led to believe he was taking part in a programme called Sights of London.

Bert, who was born in Hampstead, London, began his working life as a costermonger while still at school. In 1909, he was employed as a rat-catcher for the London borough of Hampstead, a job he held for 40 years until he retired in 1949. His charitable work began in 1901, when he and his future wife, Becky, first dressed in buttons at the annual Hampstead carnival.

The couple, who married in 1905, became famous as the Pearly King and Queen of Hampstead, travelling to America and Canada in 1952 on a goodwill 'Come to Britain' tour to promote tourism for the Festival of Britain. With over 60 years of service as a Pearly, and seeing his children and grandchildren join the tradition, Bert raised thousands of pounds for charity.

programme details...

• Edition No: 246
• Subject No: 246
• Broadcast date: Thu 20 Feb 1964
• Broadcast time: 8.50-9.15pm
• Recorded: Mon 13 Jan 1964 8.00pm
• Venue: BBC Television Theatre
• Series: 9
• Edition: 20

on the guest list...

• Betty Marsden
• George Dole
• Johnnie Newman
• George Parmenter
• Rose - daughter
• Ted - son
• Fifi the Donkey
• Ted Uwins
• Anna Benjamins
• Elsie - daughter
• George - son-in-law
• Percy - son-in-law
• Emily - daughter-in-law
• Linda - granddaughter
• Brenda - granddaughter
• Peter - grandson
• Christine – Peter's wife
• Paul – great-grandson
• Harry Tabram
Filmed tributes:
• Arthur Askey
• Tessie O'Shea

production team...

• Researcher: unknown
• Writer: unknown
• Directors: Michael Goodwin, Mark Patterson
• Producer: Vere Lorrimer
• Executive Producer: T Leslie Jackson

• names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

A Charitable Life

the unsung heroes

Arthur Askey

Kenneth Horne

Photographs of Bert Matthews This Is Your Life