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Marie Louise Rackley was 9th Pearly Queen of Finsbury, and met the Queen Mother at Park Lane Hotel, Piccadilly at the Park Lane Fair.
Arthur Rackley, Pearly King of Upminster:
"I’ve been a Pearly for thirty-two and a half years. My sister-in law Marie was born a Pearly Princess and she married my brother Jim in 1970. All three of us lived together, and when my brother died in 1980, she turned to me and said, “I’ve lost my Pearly King.” I said, “Never mind, I’ll carry on where he left off,” and for the next seven years I had a Pearly apprenticeship."
She was a Victorian lady. If she said, “Stand still,” she meant “Stand Still.” It was a regimental beginning, but a good beginning. I listened to the older members in those early days, learnt to build a story. By the time Marie passed away in 1987, she had given me a very good start.
My sister-in-law used to go and visit the Queen Mum, and once she took her niece’s baby with her. The Queen Mum gave the baby a biscuit and it got crumbs everywhere. The Queen Mum said, “Never mind, I’ve got a couple of hoovers here,” pointing to the dogs."
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