The Punch and Judy Fellowship

Mr. Punch from The PJF

Founded in 1980 by Percy Press II, and a small host of other celebrated Punch and Judy performers, The Punch and Judy Fellowship (PJF) has worked for the past thirty years to, as they put it, “preserve, promote and protect the traditions of Britain's much loved national puppet show.


I’ve mentioned the history of Punch and Judy before. We know that the first recorded account of Mr. Punch comes from Samuel Pepys’ sighting of him in 1662 in Covent Garden. Since then, Punch has been associated with Covent Garden. However, in the 1970’s the future of the markets there seemed rather bleak. When the Covent Garden Wholesale and Flower Market moved from its long-time location to elsewhere in London, some developers hinted that the markets would be demolished. Thankfully, this historic district was spared and repurposed into a retail shopping area in 1980. During the redevelopment of Covent Garden, Percy Press II, the renowned Professor, still performed his Punch and Judy show. His performances were legendary, even inspiring the name of the pub which anchors the area: “The Punch and Judy.” Mr. Punch, his wife and friends continue to make appearances in Covent Garden—as they should.

The first meeting of the PJF took place, appropriately enough, at “The Punch and Judy.” At that moment, the PJF began its mission to keep Mr. Punch’s history alive and to ensure that his story continues for many centuries to come. Through encouraging “Punch” performers, sponsoring events, providing historical background to the public, and, even performing shows, the PJF has done wonders to protect Britain’s favorite anti-hero.

I’m proud to say that I’m a member of the PJF. While I’m not a performer, I hope that with Punch’s Cousin, I’m doing my piece to make sure that Punch and his impetuous, but often well-meaning, antics are remembered and respected.