THE VOICES ARE ...
'Navy' is an irascible but cheerful survivor from the carnage that was the battle of Trafalgar, for which he
proudly wears the medal awarded by her majesty in 1848. A sweeper for the British Museum, one of the
very few to actually get a wage for the menial task, he stays out of trouble as much as he can, concentrating
on earning enough coin to keep himself and his wife away from the 'lump hotel', the affectionate term for the
dreaded workhouse. Always ready to do some 'jawing' about his 26 years at sea, especially if there is coin to
be gained by doing so, he has gained some infamy by having his life story published in the Sunday Times, no less! Although never involved in anything actually criminal, he is always ready to seize any chance to 'feed his misers'
by whatever opportunity presents itself, whether selling the time or a tooth! He is also very adept at the 'crown and anchor' table with his winnings being 'werry congenial to the situation, in a manner of speaking!"
proudly wears the medal awarded by her majesty in 1848. A sweeper for the British Museum, one of the
very few to actually get a wage for the menial task, he stays out of trouble as much as he can, concentrating
on earning enough coin to keep himself and his wife away from the 'lump hotel', the affectionate term for the
dreaded workhouse. Always ready to do some 'jawing' about his 26 years at sea, especially if there is coin to
be gained by doing so, he has gained some infamy by having his life story published in the Sunday Times, no less! Although never involved in anything actually criminal, he is always ready to seize any chance to 'feed his misers'
by whatever opportunity presents itself, whether selling the time or a tooth! He is also very adept at the 'crown and anchor' table with his winnings being 'werry congenial to the situation, in a manner of speaking!"
Polly is the long suffering wife of 'himself', as she refers to 'Navy' when speaking to others. Unfortunately disabled, or 'less-abled' as she describes herself, she is a street seller of ink, pounce, nibs and pen wipes, her 'standing' being more of a 'sitting' because of her infirmity. Despite her poverty she is a merry little soul, doubtless encouraged by the results of her home made gin, which she is more than happy to share with an unsuspecting victim .... so you have been warned!.
With a sharp word in her head and a hard cane in her hands for abusers of children or animals, she's happy enough being poor because "a lot of people didn't wake up this morning, but we did and that's got to be a reason to smile, hasn't it?"
With a sharp word in her head and a hard cane in her hands for abusers of children or animals, she's happy enough being poor because "a lot of people didn't wake up this morning, but we did and that's got to be a reason to smile, hasn't it?"
Poor Eliza has not had an easy life. Her birth marred by the attentions of a drunken midwife, she suffers more than most in the rookery for not being as street wise as everyone else. Recently evicted from the workhouse for being idle and disruptive, she has returned to the rookery and tries to survive as best she can under the watchful eye of Polly. Constantly bullied throughout her life, she is quite naturally wary of people so appears very sullen, never saying much. However, she is transformed into a chatty, friendly girl when there are children nearby or dogs to make a fuss off. Last year she slipped and broke her arm in three places and spent three weeks in hospital recovering after an agonising operation to restore some movement in the limb. The future is grim for all in the rookery, more so for unfortunates such as Eliza.