There are
no romantic views of the Piazza here this was the first Rent Ceremony
when the heavens opened and the rain poured down. So we set off inside
the Central Market building and completed a circuit mostly under the cover
of its lovely arcaded walkways.
Here is London’s famous Town Crier, Peter Moore, leading our jazz
band with Trustee Tim Wacher (right) on trombone.
A wet dash
across to the Royal Opera House arcade to pay our “rents”
of posies and red apples (for a terrace in James Street) to Adam Smith
(left) and Matthew Meaden of KBC Asset Management. To commemorate the
30th anniversary of the move in 1974 by the fruit and vegetable traders
from Covent Garden to Vauxhall, representatives of New Covent Garden Market
came in person to hand over the rents they have traditionally given to
the Covent Garden Area Trust for the occasion. Suitably dressed in mackintoshes,
from left, are: Peter Fowler, President, Covent Garden Tenants’
Association; Philip Emanuel, Chairman, CGTA and Dr. P. M. Liggins, General
Manager.
Friends and
helpers: Margaret Pargiter carries the Trust’s flag with her husband
Mike (right) who is the Trust’s Company Secretary. On her left is
writer/actor John Dalby, a regular musical performer at concerts and services
in St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden.
Peter Moore rings his bell. “Follow us into the Market for the next
rent payment!”. The brightly-coloured posies were designed by florist
Sophie Hanna of New Covent Garden Market. Carrying flowers, from left
to right: Philip Emanuel, Chairman, Covent Garden Market Tenants’
Association; Trustees Sylvia Marder and Rowena Lusty.
“The
rents are paid!”. The three posies and apples – due for the
Market; the Museums block and the Bedford Chambers buildings – are
received by Peter Webb of Scottish Widows and Catherine Thomas of Nelson
Bakewell on behalf of the Covent Garden Market Limited Partnership, the
freehold owners.
The jazz
band play on despite the rain, lifting everyone’s spirits. After
the last rents are paid they break out into “Happy Birthday to You!”
celebrating the Trust’s 16 years of existence.
Drinks, food and friendly chat. Trustees, Trust members, representatives
of New Covent Garden Market, friends and neighbours gather after the Rent
Ceremony in the Crusting Pipe courtyard in Covent Garden Market.
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
There are
no romantic views of the Piazza here this was the first Rent Ceremony
when the heavens opened and the rain poured down. So we set off inside
the Central Market building and completed a circuit mostly under the cover
of its lovely arcaded walkways. 
A wet dash
across to the Royal Opera House arcade to pay our “rents”
of posies and red apples (for a terrace in James Street) to Adam Smith
(left) and Matthew Meaden of KBC Asset Management. To commemorate the
30th anniversary of the move in 1974 by the fruit and vegetable traders
from Covent Garden to Vauxhall, representatives of New Covent Garden Market
came in person to hand over the rents they have traditionally given to
the Covent Garden Area Trust for the occasion. Suitably dressed in mackintoshes,
from left, are: Peter Fowler, President, Covent Garden Tenants’
Association; Philip Emanuel, Chairman, CGTA and Dr. P. M. Liggins, General
Manager.
Friends and
helpers: Margaret Pargiter carries the Trust’s flag with her husband
Mike (right) who is the Trust’s Company Secretary. On her left is
writer/actor John Dalby, a regular musical performer at concerts and services
in St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden. 
Peter Moore rings his bell. “Follow us into the Market for the next
rent payment!”. The brightly-coloured posies were designed by florist
Sophie Hanna of New Covent Garden Market. Carrying flowers, from left
to right: Philip Emanuel, Chairman, Covent Garden Market Tenants’
Association; Trustees Sylvia Marder and Rowena Lusty. 
“The
rents are paid!”. The three posies and apples – due for the
Market; the Museums block and the Bedford Chambers buildings – are
received by Peter Webb of Scottish Widows and Catherine Thomas of Nelson
Bakewell on behalf of the Covent Garden Market Limited Partnership, the
freehold owners.
The jazz
band play on despite the rain, lifting everyone’s spirits. After
the last rents are paid they break out into “Happy Birthday to You!”
celebrating the Trust’s 16 years of existence.