09/08/14: With the glorious weather we’ve been experiencing apparently about to take a downturn, QX soaked up the last of the sun in SE10 for the rambunctious return of Greenwich Street Party last Saturday. Raising funds for charities GALOP and Prostate Cancer UK – not to mention putting South East London’s LGBT community firmly on the map with one of summer’s most anticipated annual fixtures – a star-studded evening featured the crème de la crème of the capital’s cabaret stalwarts, plus the fiercely-contested Michael Joyce Charity Drag Race bringing the historic centre of town to a standstill. Â
Kicking off at 6pm, an itinerary of spectacular shenanigans included no end of cross-dressing doyennes entertaining the masses outside Ye Old Rose & Crown, with the legendary likes of The Duchess, La Voix and Lola Lasagne getting raucous for Cher classics, open air rabble-rousing and a whole lot more. Highlights saw the crowd showing their appreciation for pre-watershed innuendo from Miss Jason, along with dashing drag king, LoUis CYpher, rendering storming tributes to Bjork and James Brown – whilst local landmark Heap’s Sausages ensured the hungry hordes were kept well fed in traditional street party style!
Come 7pm and our ever-obliging boys in blue stopped traffic to enable those Olympian dragsters free passage along the sprint circuit, as the spectators roared on the stiletto-heeled hoofers through the cobbled streets. Having seized an easy victory amidst scenes of near-hysteria, we caught up with winner ‘Miss St Helens 1974’ – aka local boy David – after the race and can report she raised a hefty sum via online fundraising site JustGiving. Congratulations gal!
Meanwhile, further onstage entertainment ensued as the always badly-behaved Sandra led the throng in a chorus of ‘Brown Girl in the Ring’, with even more thrills to come from the likes of Tanya Hyde, Dave Lynn and Kelly Wilde.
Come 10.30pm, a complimentary coach service rolled up as the whole assemblage adjourned to the George & Dragon in Blackheath for thumping DJ choons and block-rockin’ party shenanigans into the small hours. Well done to everyone involved for a fantastic event – here’s to next year!
Michael Joyce Charity Drag Race: at The Rose & Crown, 1 Crooms Hill, Greenwich, SE10 8ER.
The George & Dragon, 2 Blackheath Hill, Greenwich, SE10 8DE,
Words by Chris John
Photos by Joel Ryder
