RENT CEREMONY 2001

This was the year when we were joined by the new vicar of St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden in London.

The Reverend Mark Oakley (in red) and a student priest, Jonathan Swindells, escorted Peter Moore, London’s Town Crier, on the Trustees’ walk around the Piazza. Here they are leaving the Trust’s office in Maiden Lane to head north up Southampton Street. The jazz band is in full swing behind.





Carrying the “rents” are (left) Kim Church, publisher of In and Around Covent Garden magazine; (centre, behind) Peter Wilcox, manager, The Aldwych Theatre and (right) Rosie Ivison, a barrister. They are halfway round the Piazza, on the north side, just past the end of James Street with the rounded columns of the Royal Opera House arcade in the background

A friendly wave from Stan Sheriff who lives in Covent Garden and works as a judge’s clerk in the Law Courts in the Strand. He carries one of the magnificent bunches of old fashioned roses and sweet peas. Florist Sophie Hanna made up the beautiful posies which were generously given to the Trust by the Covent Garden Market Authority (the fruit and vegetable market which moved out of the Central Market some 20 years ago). The Trustees, in turn, hand over the bouquets as their “peppercorn rents” for the buildings in the Piazza on which they hold the headlease. In the background is a huge exhibit consisting of hundreds of apples - part of the Covent Garden Flower Festival.

In a powerful voice, the Town Crier announces to the crowds that the “rents” are about to be paid by the Trustees. He is standing on a stage in front of the portico of St Paul's Church in the Piazza. Straight ahead is the Central Market building. To his left are the Reverend Mark Oakley and Geoff Holland, the Trust’s Chairman. To his right are the Trustees.

“The rent is paid”, exclaims the Town Crier. “Congratulations to the freeholders of these beautiful buildings! Congratulations to the Covent Garden Area Trust. Thirteen years old today. Only 137 more years to go!” The band play Happy Birthday to You and here are the freeholders’ representatives joining in the singing. From left: good old Mike Pargiter, the Trust’s Company Secretary, (whose little dog Daisy, a regular at Rent Ceremonies, always wears a matching waistcoat); Andrew Hyder of Scottish Widows; Andrew Friend of Henderson Global; Adam Smith and Simon Radford of Atlantic Fund Management. Eileen Woods, Trustee and Organiser of the Covent Garden Flower Festival joins in the chorus.


All photographs by Sheila Burnett

Covent Garden Area Trust
13 New Row, Covent Garden, London WC2N 4LF
Tel: 020 7497 9245
Fax: 020 7240 2405
Registered Charity no. 299874