London’s Lord Mayor’s Show: A History of Hilarious Mishaps

The Lord Mayor’s Show is a venerable London tradition, rooted in medieval times, annually marking the inauguration of a new Lord Mayor each November. While now a cherished event, its history is replete with criticisms and mishaps. Historically, naysayers like Samuel Pepys (1660) deemed it “poor and absurd,” with others in 1909 calling it “tomfoolery” and “rank insanity” due to the “incalculable inconvenience” and loss caused to businesses and traffic. A major benefit to commuters came in 1959 when the Show was moved to the second Saturday in November, mitigating weekday traffic disruption.

Despite its grandeur, the Show has seen numerous “bloopers.” In 1930, a crimson model lion mascot, Reggie, spooked four parading elephants, causing a stampede and minor injuries before the beasts were calmed. Weather has also posed risks; 1887 saw heavy rain leading to a “draggle-tailed” procession and horses spooked by reverberations under Holborn Viaduct. A 1921 “yellow-tinted” fog famously obscured the entire spectacle. The very term “float” originates from the Mayor’s early river procession, which in 1483 saw livery company barges collide and sink, causing at least one death and inspiring the phrase “at sixes and sevens.”

Individual mayors faced peril too: Lord Mayor Gilbert Heathcote reportedly broke his leg after being unhorsed in 1711, prompting subsequent mayors to use coaches. More recently, in 2012, Roger Gifford’s golden coach jammed, forcing him to continue in a Land Rover. In 1974, a tube train displayed on a lorry proved too large for City streets and had to be retired. Cancellations are rare but have occurred due to plagues, the Great Fire, fears of rioting, state funerals, and the 2020 Covid pandemic. Despite its chaotic past, the Lord Mayor’s Show remains a significant and beloved part of London’s calendar.

(Source: https://londonist.com/london/history/lord-mayor-s-show-the-blooper-reel)