Grand Order of Water Rats

Grand Order of Water Rats
Abbreviation GOWR
Formation 1889
Type Showbusiness charity
Purpose to assist members of the theatrical profession, or their dependents, who are in need
Location
  • 'The Water Rats' public house in the Gray's Inn Road, London
Membership
200
Website http://www.gowr.net
Remarks Current King Rat: Rick Wakeman

The Grand Order of Water Rats is an exclusive British entertainment industry Fraternity and charitable organisation, based in London. Founded in 1889 by the music hall comedians Joe Elvin and Jack Lotto, the order is known for its high profile membership and benevolent works (primarily within the performing industries).[1]

Origin

Founder Joe Elvin c. 1890

In 1889, two British music hall performers, Joe Elvin and Jack Lotto, owned a trotting pony called the Magpie.[2] As the pony was a regular race winner, its owners decided that they would use the profits to help performers who were less fortunate than themselves.[3]

One day, as Elvin was driving the pony back to its stables in the pouring rain, a passing bus driver called out, "Wot yer got there, mate?" "Our trotting pony!" replied Elvin. Observing the bedraggled, soaked condition of the pony, the driver shouted back, "Trotting pony? Looks more like a bleedin' water rat!" (a type of vole). As Rats spelled backwards is Star, and vole is an anagram of love, the name was deemed appropriate for the Order's agenda of Brotherly Love. (Motto: Philanthropy, conviviality and social intercourse.)[4]

The charity raises money by organising shows, lunches, dinners and other events. The objects of the charity are "to assist members of the theatrical profession, or their dependents, who, due to illness or old age are in need." When possible additional funds raised go to a diverse range of charities and good causes including hospitals, health charities and benevolent funds.[5] A member of the public can become a Friend of the Water Rats.

The Water Rats originally held meetings in Sunbury-on-Thames in a public house now called 'The Magpie'. Their headquarters is now at the Water Rats pub in Grays Inn Road in King's Cross, London.

Members

Membership is limited to 180 long-serving male members of the entertainment industry plus 20 Companion Rats. Some Water Rats are household names but many are not, but all must be respected and trusted by their peers. Joining the Order is an exclusive and complicated process that involves finding a proposer and seconder within the Order, consideration by the Order's Grand Council and finally a vote which needs a large majority for success. The present King Rat (2013) is keyboard player and composer Rick Wakeman. Current members include Kev Orkian, Derek Martin, Con and Dec Cluskey of The Bachelors, Engelbert Humperdinck, Lionel Blair, Tom O'Connor, Frank Bruno, Frazer Hines, Barry Cryer, Paul Daniels, Billy Murray, Brian May, Nicholas Parsons, Roy Hudd, Ken Dodd, Joe Pasquale, Jimmy Perry, Andrew Van Buren, Richard Joy, Ian Lavender, Kaplan Kaye and Jess Conrad.[6]

Past members include Bob Holness, Frank Carson, Max Bygraves, Charlie Chaplin, Peter Lorre, Peter Sellers, Don Smoothey, Jon Pertwee, Danny Kaye, Davy Kaye, Laurel and Hardy, Maurice Chevalier, Bob Hope, Will Hay, Frankie Vaughan, Tommy Cooper, Ted Ray, Les Dawson, George Martin, Sir John Mills, Sir Billy Butlin, David Nixon, Howard Keel, Sir Harry Secombe, Arthur English,[7] Charlie Chester, Arthur Haynes, Derek Dene, Jimmy Wheeler, Bill Pertwee, Sir Norman Wisdom[8] and Bert Weedon.

The gold Water Rat stick pin worn by members

Members of the order wear a small gold badge shaped as a water rat on the left lapel of their jackets, and if one Water Rat meets another who is not wearing his badge he is fined, with the money going to charity.[9] Magician David Nixon wore his badge while appearing on television, explaining that as current King Rat he could be fined by any other member who saw him on screen without it.

There is also a small number of Companion Rats, distinguished men from various fields of business and influence who are not performers but who have achieved recognition for their support and friendship of the Order. These include Bob Potter OBE, Rear Admiral Sir Donald Gosling, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles and Prince Michael of Kent.

King Rats

The first King Rat, who is the head of the charity, was the music hall singer Harry Freeman. The comedian Dan Leno joined in 1890 and was King Rat in 1891, 1892 and 1897.[10] The post is usually held for one year.

Previous King Rats include:[11][12]

1890 Harry Freeman

1891 Dan Leno

1892 Dan Leno

1893 Wal Pink

1894 Joe Elvin

1895 J.W. Cragg

1896 Eugene Stratton

1897 Dan Leno

1898 Joe O'Gorman

1899 Paul Martinetti

1900 Eugene Stratton

1901 Joe O'Gorman

1902 Wal Pink

1903 Fred Russell

1904 Tom McNaughton

1905 Arthur Reece

1906 Little Tich

1907 J. Allison

1908 W.H. Clemart

1909 Fred Ginnett

1910 C. Warren

1911 Harry Tate

1912 Charles Austin

1913 Charles Austin

1914 Fred Russell

1915 William Bankier

1916 Lew Lake

1917 Lew Lake

1918 Charles Austin

1919 William Bankier

1920 Deane Tribune

1921 George D'Albert

World Upheaval - Lodge suspended until 1927

1927 Charles Austin

1928 Charles Austin

1929 Fred Russell

1930 Talbot O'Farrell

1931 Will Hay

1932 Charles Austin

1933 Joe Morrison

1934 Will Fyffe

1935 Marriott Edgar

1936 George Wood

1937 Stanley Damerell

1938 Fred Miller

1939 Fred Russell

1940 Will Hay

1941 John Sharman

1942 George Jackley

1943 Tom Moss

1944 George Doonan

1945 Bud Flanagan

1946 Teddy Brown (died)/Bud Flanagan

1947 Robb Wilton

1948 Albert Whelan

1949 Ted Ray

1950 Ted Ray

1951 Bud Flanagan

1952 Charlie Chester

1953 Ben Warriss

1954 George Elrick

1955 Tommy Trinder

1956 Dave O'Gorman

1957 Cyril Dowler

1958 Clarkson Rose

1959 Johnny Riscoe

1960 Arthur Scott

1961 Ben Warriss

1962 Ben Warriss

1963 Tommy Trinder

1964 Ted Ray

1965 Tommy Trinder

1966 Arthur Haynes

1967 Terry Cantor

1968 Frankie Vaughan

1969 Harry Seltzer

1970 Phil Hindin

1971 George Martin

1972 Albert Stevenson

1973 George Elrick

1974 Cyril Dowler

1975 Joe Church

1976 David Nixon

1977 David Nixon

1978 Don Ross

1979 David Berglas

1980 Henry Cooper

1981 Declan Cluskey

1982 Charlie Smithers

1983 Len Lowe

1984 Davy Kaye

1985 Les Dawson

1986 Alan Freeman

1987 Danny La Rue

1988 Bernard Bresslaw

1989 Roy Hudd

1990 David Lodge

1991 Wyn Calvin

1992 Bert Weedon

1993 John Inman

1994 Roger DeCourcey

1995 Paul Daniels

1996 Paul Daniels

1997 Alf Pearson

1998 Frankie Vaughan

1999 Gorden Kaye

2000 Roy Hudd

2001 Don Smoothey

2002 Keith Simmons

2003 Chas McDevitt

2004 Chas McDevitt

2005 Melvyn Hayes

2006 Kaplan Kaye

2007 Kaplan Kaye

2008 Kaplan Kaye

2009 Graham Cole

2010 Derek Martin

2011 Keith Simmons

2012 Joe Pasquale

2013 Jess Conrad

2014 Rick Wakeman

2015 Rick Wakeman

Gallery

References

  1. Elvin and the Grand Order of Water Rats
  2. Golden, George Fuller. My Lady Vaudeville and her White Rats. Published under the auspices of the Board of Directors of the White Rats of America, 1909. p. 31.
  3. Charlie Chester, The Grand Order of Water Rats: A Legend of Laughter - W.H. Allen, London (1984) pg 12
  4. Chester, pg 12
  5. Chester, pg 13
  6. List of members of the GOWR
  7. English, Arthur (with Linton Mitchell) Through the Mill and Beyond The Basingstoke Press (1989) pg 166
  8. The Laurel and Hardy Encyclopedia by Glen Mitchell (2008) (Reynolds & Hearn) ISBN 978-1-905287-71-0, (Page 124)
  9. Chester, pg 23
  10. Leno and the Grand Order of Water Rats
  11. List of Past King Rats - Grand Order of Water Rats website
  12. Chester, pgs 14-15

External links

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