Xavier Petulengro
Encyclopedia
Xavier Petulengro more often known as Gipsy Petulengro (or Gypsy Petulengro), was a British
Romani horse
trader, violinist, businessman, writer and broadcaster, known as the "King of the Gypsies
". He frequently broadcast on BBC radio
in the 1930s and 1940s, and later wrote regular astrology
columns in magazines as well as publishing his autobiography and several books on Gypsy lore.
, Lancashire
, to a Romany family, and probably lived for part of his childhood near Galaţi
in Romania
, where his father traded Welsh ponies
. He also used the family names Walter Lloyd and Walter Smith. According to his own autobiography, he was the grandson of Ambrose Smith (c.1804-1878), known as Jasper Petulengro, the semi-fictionalised subject of the books Lavengro
and Romany Rye by George Borrow
. To date this has not been verified. The name 'Petulengro', comes from the sanskrit 'Petul' meaning horseshoe and 'Engro' from the Romani meaning man or thing, hence 'Blacksmith'.
Unusually among Gypsies at the time, he learned to read and write, later claiming that this was due to the assistance of Admiral Arthur Wilson VC
of the Royal Navy
and his sister, but also with the help of a farmer's wife, Martha Clark, in Whitehaven
, Cumbria
, where the family spent several winters. As a young man he followed his father into the horse-trading business, and also served in the British army
, allegedly signing up after getting involved in a fight with a gamekeeper
.
In the 1920s, when living in Manchester
, he was invited to help re-establish a tradition of Gypsy "parties" at Baildon in Yorkshire
, which had taken place in the area for several centuries but which had died out after 1897. In 1929 the annual parties were revived, with 'real' Gypsies attending alongside local people dressed up in costume.
In the 1930s, he was regularly featured on BBC Radio's popular programme In Town Tonight
, becoming known as "the famous broadcasting Gypsy". He also began writing articles on Gypsy lore and food for The Listener. In 1935 he published his first book, Romany Remedies and Recipes, followed in 1937 by an autobiography, A Romany Life. Both were published under the name Gipsy (sic) Petulengro. He also established a mail order business, Petulengro's Herbal Products.
He was described as the "King of the Gypsies" in an account of a Romany wedding at Baildon in 1937 between his son Leon Petulengro and Illeana Smith. According to press reports at the time, Xavier Petulengro cut the hands of the couple to mingle their blood, and bound their wrists with a silk cord, as part of the ceremony. The wedding was covered by several newspapers and filmed by Pathé News
for showing in cinemas. As "King of the Gypsies" he officiated at other traditional weddings.
After the Second World War he went on to write an astrology column, "Your Fate in the Stars", in the Sunday Chronicle
national newspaper. He died in Littlehampton
, Sussex
, on June 16, 1957, aged about 98. His funeral was held at Viney Hill, near Lydney
in the Forest of Dean
, Gloucestershire
, which he had visited many times and where he had said he wished to be buried. The funeral was arranged in traditional Gypsy style, with about 100 mourners in traditional costumes and some 1,500 sightseers.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Romani horse
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
trader, violinist, businessman, writer and broadcaster, known as the "King of the Gypsies
King of the Gypsies
The title King of the Gypsies has been claimed or given over the centuries to many different people. It is both culturally and geographically specific. It may be inherited, acquired by acclamation or action, or simply claimed. The extent of the power associated with the title varied; it might be...
". He frequently broadcast on BBC radio
BBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
in the 1930s and 1940s, and later wrote regular astrology
Astrology
Astrology consists of a number of belief systems which hold that there is a relationship between astronomical phenomena and events in the human world...
columns in magazines as well as publishing his autobiography and several books on Gypsy lore.
Life
Details of his birth and childhood are uncertain. Sources suggest that he was born in RochdaleRochdale
Rochdale is a large market town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amongst the foothills of the Pennines on the River Roch, north-northwest of Oldham, and north-northeast of the city of Manchester. Rochdale is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, to a Romany family, and probably lived for part of his childhood near Galaţi
Galati
Galați is a city and municipality in Romania, the capital of Galați County. Located in the historical region of Moldavia, in the close vicinity of Brăila, Galați is the largest port and sea port on the Danube River and the second largest Romanian port....
in Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, where his father traded Welsh ponies
Welsh Pony
The Welsh Pony and Cob are closely related horse breeds including both pony and cob types, which originated in Wales in the United Kingdom...
. He also used the family names Walter Lloyd and Walter Smith. According to his own autobiography, he was the grandson of Ambrose Smith (c.1804-1878), known as Jasper Petulengro, the semi-fictionalised subject of the books Lavengro
Lavengro
Lavengro: The Scholar, the Gypsy, the Priest is a work by George Borrow, falling somewhere between the genres of memoir and novel, which has long been considered a classic of 19th century English literature. According to the author lav-engro is a Romany word meaning "word master". The historian...
and Romany Rye by George Borrow
George Borrow
George Henry Borrow was an English author who wrote novels and travelogues based on his own experiences around Europe. Over the course of his wanderings, he developed a close affinity with the Romani people of Europe. They figure prominently in his work...
. To date this has not been verified. The name 'Petulengro', comes from the sanskrit 'Petul' meaning horseshoe and 'Engro' from the Romani meaning man or thing, hence 'Blacksmith'.
Unusually among Gypsies at the time, he learned to read and write, later claiming that this was due to the assistance of Admiral Arthur Wilson VC
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
and his sister, but also with the help of a farmer's wife, Martha Clark, in Whitehaven
Whitehaven
Whitehaven is a small town and port on the coast of Cumbria, England, which lies equidistant between the county's two largest settlements, Carlisle and Barrow-in-Furness, and is served by the Cumbrian Coast Line and the A595 road...
, Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
, where the family spent several winters. As a young man he followed his father into the horse-trading business, and also served in the British army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
, allegedly signing up after getting involved in a fight with a gamekeeper
Gamekeeper
A gamekeeper is a person who manages an area of countryside to make sure there is enough game for shooting, or fish for angling, and who actively manages areas of woodland, moorland, waterway or farmland for the benefit of game birds, deer, fish and wildlife in general.Typically, a gamekeeper is...
.
In the 1920s, when living in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, he was invited to help re-establish a tradition of Gypsy "parties" at Baildon in Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, which had taken place in the area for several centuries but which had died out after 1897. In 1929 the annual parties were revived, with 'real' Gypsies attending alongside local people dressed up in costume.
In the 1930s, he was regularly featured on BBC Radio's popular programme In Town Tonight
In Town Tonight
In Town Tonight was a BBC radio programme broadcast on Saturday evening from 1933 to 1960 . It was an early example of the chat show, originally presented by Eric Maschwitz.Its theme music was the Knightsbridge March by Eric Coates...
, becoming known as "the famous broadcasting Gypsy". He also began writing articles on Gypsy lore and food for The Listener. In 1935 he published his first book, Romany Remedies and Recipes, followed in 1937 by an autobiography, A Romany Life. Both were published under the name Gipsy (sic) Petulengro. He also established a mail order business, Petulengro's Herbal Products.
He was described as the "King of the Gypsies" in an account of a Romany wedding at Baildon in 1937 between his son Leon Petulengro and Illeana Smith. According to press reports at the time, Xavier Petulengro cut the hands of the couple to mingle their blood, and bound their wrists with a silk cord, as part of the ceremony. The wedding was covered by several newspapers and filmed by Pathé News
Pathe News
Pathé Newsreels were produced from 1910 until the 1970s, when production of newsreels was in general stopped. Pathé News today is known as British Pathé and its archive of over 90,000 reels is fully digitised and online.-History:...
for showing in cinemas. As "King of the Gypsies" he officiated at other traditional weddings.
After the Second World War he went on to write an astrology column, "Your Fate in the Stars", in the Sunday Chronicle
Sunday Chronicle
The Sunday Chronicle was a newspaper in the United Kingdom.The newspaper was founded in Manchester by Edward Hulton in August 1885. He was known for his sporting coverage, already publishing the Sporting Chronicle, the Daily Dispatch and the Athletic News. The paper initially cost one penny and,...
national newspaper. He died in Littlehampton
Littlehampton
Littlehampton is a seaside resort town and civil parish in the Arun District of West Sussex, England, on the east bank at the mouth of the River Arun. It lies south southwest of London, west of Brighton and east of the county town of Chichester....
, Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
, on June 16, 1957, aged about 98. His funeral was held at Viney Hill, near Lydney
Lydney
Lydney is a small town and civil parish in the English county of Gloucestershire. It is located on the west bank of the River Severn, close to the Forest of Dean. The town lies on the A48 road, next to the Lydney Park gardens with its Roman temple in honour of Nodens.-Transport:The Severn Railway...
in the Forest of Dean
Forest of Dean
The Forest of Dean is a geographical, historical and cultural region in the western part of the county of Gloucestershire, England. The forest is a roughly triangular plateau bounded by the River Wye to the west and north, the River Severn to the south, and the City of Gloucester to the east.The...
, Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
, which he had visited many times and where he had said he wished to be buried. The funeral was arranged in traditional Gypsy style, with about 100 mourners in traditional costumes and some 1,500 sightseers.