Building up this archive is going to take a long time. Let's start with this photograph of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy with Wee Georgie Wood

This famous photograph was taken by Water Rat Doug McKenzie at the Water Rats Ball of 1992 at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London when Bert Weedon was King Rat. From left to right: Bruce Welch, Joe Brown, George Harrison, Mike Read, Chas McDevitt, Lonnie Donegan, Bert Weedon, Brian May and Dec Cluskey.

Past King Rats, at the 2002 Ball, line up with King Rat for 2002 Keith Simmons for a very special photo opportunity. Top from left to right: Gorden Kaye, Bert Weedon, Roger DeCourcey, Roy Hudd, Wyn Calvin, Dec Clusky, bottom row: David Lodge, Alf Pearson, Keith Simmons, David Berglas, Danny La Rue.

Back in the fifties the 'Showbiz Eleven' had quite a few Water Rats amongst it's number who would turn out for some major charity football matches. This picture was taken on 1 May 1957 at West Ham in aid of The Sportsman Aid Society. The crowd was about 23,000 and Alma Cogan kicked the game off. The line up, with Water Rats in upper case, is left to right (Back Row): Wally Barnes (Captain Wales and Arsenal), STAN STENNETT, BILL COTTON JNR (now Sir Bill), Dave King, Pip Wedge, Kenneth Wolstenholme, John Burgess, Ziggy Jackson, PETE MURRAY, Bill Parry (Masseur), LONNIE DONEGAN. Left to right (Front Row): Franklin Boyd, Glen Mason, BERNIE WINTERS, Adriano Henney (Mascot), Jimmy Henney (Captain), Des O'Connor, CHAS McDEVITT and MIKE WINTERS.

These days Water Rat Jess Conrad oversees the 'Showbiz Eleven' and sometimes plays in goal himself ("because I get to wear something different to the others!").

The Royal Theatrical Fund has kindly loaned us some pictures of our Past King Rat Dan Leno for our museum. Thought you might like to see them before they go on show. Our thanks to Roz Foster (secretary of the RTF) for acquring them for us and our own Past Prince Rat Chris Emmett for his work on them.

There have been many household names who have been members of The Grand Order of Water Rats. Probably none though come bigger than Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy (Water Rats 465 and 466). Still popular through films and cartoons and still with a legion of fans throughout the world. Here they are pictured with Past King Rat Wee Georgie Wood - all pointing to their emblems. Our thanks to Past King Rat Roy Hudd OBE for bringing this photograph to our attention.