RENT CEREMONY 2000

Peter Moore, the Town Crier, rings his bell and sets off up Southampton Street, leading the way from the Covent Garden Area Trust’s office in Maiden Lane.





Terrific acoustics in the glass-roofed Central Avenue of Covent Garden Market. Leading the band on the left is Mike Cotton, a regular with the Acker Bilk Band. On the right is Trustee Tim Wacher playing saxophone.










Daisy the West Highland Terrier, (centre, foreground) appropriately dressed in a daisy-patterned coat, in front of her owners - The Trust’s Company Secretary, Mike Pargiter and his wife Margaret. They all wear matching outfits.




Sylvia Marder, MBE, Trustee (left) carried a basket of flower posies and apples at her first Rent Ceremony. This was an historic occasion because she had written the Trust’s lease when she worked as a solicitor for the GLC. It was her idea to incorporate the payment of a “peppercorn rent”. On her right, also carrying a “rent” basket is Aura Hill who was visiting from Canada.



Simon Radford of Atlantic Fund Management (left) receiving the “rent” for 28-31 James Street - the Georgian terrace behind him on the left. Derek Parkes carries another basket. The beautiful posies and red apples were kindly donated by the New Covent Garden Market Authority.




Heading for James Street past the Royal Opera House arcade. Peter Moore, the Town Crier, leads the jazz band followed by Trustees of the Covent Garden Area Trust and crowds of well-wishers.


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