The Queen of the Gypsies

From the collection of

The Box
Established in 1992, the South West Film & Television Archive collection spans from 1893 to the present day containing more than 250,000 items. Formed from a variety of depositors, including broadcast news and programmes material from the Westward and TSW archive. In 2018 the archive collection transferred to The Box in Plymouth.

The Queen of the Gypsies


Clive Gunnell interviews the new Gypsy Queen 80-year-old Mrs Wells in her gypsy caravan. She is at the roadside near Chard in Somerset with her group. Mrs Wells has been queen for one year since her aunt died, and makes a living selling clothes pegs and paper flowers. The title of queen is bestowed upon the eldest female. Sarishan means good day! The reply is Kushto b?k! Good luck to you! The Romany dialect is thought to come from Sanskrit. A Gorger is a non-gypsy.


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