Hearts of London

Hearts of London playing cards designed by Vicki Hill and illustrated by Wendy Guttridge for the British Heart Foundation, 1994. The cards double as “Happy Families” with 12 of the City of London Livery companies represented, plus the four aces representing officials of the City of London. The idea of the game is to collect members of the City of London's Livery Companies. Families are made up of Masters, Liverymen, Freemen & Apprentices of each company. The thirteenth family consists of the Lord Mayor, Lady Mayoress, Swordbearer and Macebearer. See the Box►

Above: “Hearts of London” designed by Vicki Hill and illustrated by Wendy Guttridge, made by Carta Mundi in both a red and a black back, sold to raise money for the British Heart Foundation, 1994. Two jokers are also included.

FOOTNOTE - by Roddy Somerville

1994 was the year in which Christopher Walford became Lord Mayor of the City of London. It is his face which is featured on the tuck box and on the Ace of Spades, while his wife, Anne, appears on the Ace of Hearts. I helped Anne to get the pack produced early on in Christopher's year as Lord Mayor. It had a dual purpose - to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation and also to be given at events and ceremonies during his year at which a gift had to be presented. The pack was available with either a red or a black back, featuring an old view of the Mansion House, the building which acts as the Lord Mayor's home during his year in office. Sir Christopher Walford (knighted 1995) was a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards, the first person ever to be elected Lord Mayor whose mother company was the WCMPC. As a further note, many members of the WCMPC took part in the Lord Mayor's Show in 1994. I was one of them - dressed, or should I say disguised, as a King of Spades!