Comments on: Petticoat Lane market and Ras Prince Monolulu

By: The Rodent

The Rodent — Tue, 12 Jan 2021 20:43:04 +0000

I grew up in the East End of London from 1949 to 1970 and I only saw Prince Monolulu once, on the London Underground (Central Line). He definitely stood out from the crowd in his feathers and costume. Large parts of the old East End have now been demolished, whole streets including the house I grew up in, were flattened to make way for tower blocks.Prince Monolulu was part of old London, we shall not see his like again.

By: Frank lannon

Frank lannon — Tue, 24 Oct 2017 14:24:50 +0000

I find Prince Monolulu so fascinating and I am researching his life. I have purchased a book from the U.S.A and inside as I opened fell out one of his tips
and on it is 23.v.57 London, then mr and mrseaton
the message reads many thanks for your Christmas dinner god bless your family and grand childrens please answer ifyou please send me the address of the bugler/the Englishman. on one edge it says a little bit of dear old London
on the other edge it gives tips of mounne 11 derby and rose royal oaks I believe. Has any one any ideas. Also the book was SEX AND RACE WITH A MESSAGE TO GARY AND RANDY DATED 3/3/57 CAN ANYONE THROW ANY LIGHT ON WHO THESE PEOPLE COULD BE PLEASE. MY EMAI IS goldenlady2@sky.com if anyone has any info or items/stories they wish to share. For I am writing a book on his life and I am doing a memories chapter. Many thanks Frank Lannon

By: nigel saunders

nigel saunders — Sat, 15 Jul 2017 10:47:21 +0000

i remember him outside the gates at newmarket races i use to think what a fascinating person pity there are not more people like prince monolulu about

By: Miriam Clews

Miriam Clews — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 18:54:15 +0000

I am now almost 80 but I rmember him going down Bruce Grove shouting ‘I’ve gotta horse’ He was part of Tottenham. When I was small my mum told me to touch him for luck. When I was older she was scandalised to find I was actually speaking to him. How times Have changed.
Is Tina Maskell one of the Tottenham Maskells?

By: noel white

noel white — Thu, 08 Dec 2016 19:35:38 +0000

My family were street corner Bookies and had pitches at both ends of the lane

My uncle Lew who Monolulu bet with always said he almost never won not even breaking even most weeks.
What he did do with his tips was mainly stay to races with a small field and tip every horse in the race E/W so in a ten horse race he had one winner and two place winners.
In big races he did read form but mainly stayed with the first four in the betting

By: tina maskell

tina maskell — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 23:07:07 +0000

My 85year old mother still makes prince monolulu suntan lotion, he gave her grandfather the receipt for her to use when she was 6years old. Olive oil and vinegar!

By: Patricia easton

Patricia easton — Fri, 01 Jan 2016 07:06:00 +0000

Miss my hometown. Childhood memories abound.

By: Pat christen

Pat christen — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 22:19:01 +0000

Comment as above

By: Patricia easton

Patricia easton — Mon, 21 Dec 2015 06:44:03 +0000

I am 89 left UK at age 22′ loved Hyde Park Corner, interesting to read the life story of the Prince. He was indeed a colorful character. Been back several times, born in London, still a cockney to the core. Fate brought to where I am now.

By: June Hurst

June Hurst — Sun, 29 Nov 2015 12:53:04 +0000

My family lived at 141 Cleveland Street from 1945 to 1961. I was one of the kids who used to follow Prince Monolulu along the street. We were dazzled by his colourful costume and feathered headdress. As Peter and Julia say above, he was like the Pied Piper. We would beg him to hold our hand and tell us our fortune, calling out “what will I be, what will I be?”. When I was five years old one day I managed to grab his hand and ask him. He looked at me seriously for a second or two and said “young lady you will be a secretary”. As a five year old, I had no idea what that was, but guess what, he was spot on! My uncle George who lived at 116 remembers before the War he would stand outside the George & Dragon Pub in Cleveland Street with sweets in the folds of his baggy trousers and throw them out to all the kids gathered around him. He did not own many material things and slept on the floor on a straw mattress at 83 Cleveland street. He put most of his winnings into buying gold including gold teeth and when he was down on his luck he would simply pawn them and start again. What a character !
I heard the story about him choking to death in hospital on a sweet. So sad. He was a memorable part of my childhood. I can still feel the coolness of his large strong hand holding mine even to this day. I can still hear his charismatic soft voice. He was the first black man I ever saw. That was in about 1954. We all still talk about him to this day.