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((Short description|British entertainment industry organization))
((Use dmy dates|date=May 2023))
((infobox organization
| name                = Grand Order of Water Rats
| image               = GOWR-logo.jpg
| size                = 
| map                 = Water-rat-pin.jpg
| map_caption         = The gold Water Rat emblem worn by members
| abbreviation        = GOWR
| motto               = 
| formation           = 1889
| extinction          = 
| type                = Show business charity
| status              = 
| purpose             = To assist members of the theatrical profession, or their dependents, who are in need
| headquarters        = 
| location            = The Water Rats public house in [[Gray's Inn Road]], [[London]]
| membership          = 200
| language            = 
| leader_title        = King Rat
| leader_name         = [[Chris Emmett]]<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.gowr.net/|title=King Rat|website=Gowr.net|access-date=11 March 2023))</ref>
| main_organ          = 
| parent_organization = 
| affiliations        = 
| num_staff           = 
| num_volunteers      = 
| budget              = 
| website             = http://www.gowr.net
))

The '''Grand Order of Water Rats''' is a British entertainment industry [[fraternity]] and [[charitable organisation]] based in London. Founded in 1889 by the [[music hall]] comedians [[Joe Elvin]] and [[Jack Lotto]], the order is known for its high-profile membership and benevolent works (primarily within the performing industries).<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.gowr.net/History/history1.html|title=Elvin and the Grand Order of Water Rats|website=Gowr.net|access-date=7 October 2019))</ref>

==Origin==
[[File:joe-elvin-1890.jpg|thumb|130px|left|Founder Joe Elvin c.&nbsp;1890]]
In 1889, two British music hall performers, Joe Elvin and Jack Lotto, owned a trotting pony called "Magpie".<ref>Golden, George Fuller. [https://archive.org/details/myladyvaudevill00goldgoog ''My Lady Vaudeville and her White Rats'']. Published under the auspices of the Board of Directors of the White Rats of America, 1909. p. 31.</ref> As the pony was a regular race winner, its owners decided that they would use the profits to help performers who were less fortunate than themselves.<ref name=Chester>[[Charlie Chester]], ''The Grand Order of Water Rats: A Legend of Laughter'' – W.H. Allen, London (1984) pg 12</ref> One day, as Elvin was driving the pony back to its stables in the pouring rain, a passing bus driver called out, "Wot yer got there, mate?" "Our trotting pony!" replied Elvin. Observing the bedraggled, soaked condition of the pony, the driver shouted back, "Trotting pony? Looks more like a bleedin' [[European water vole|water rat]]!" As ''Rats'' spelled backwards is ''Star'', and ''vole'', another name for a water rat, is an anagram of ''love'', the name was deemed appropriate for the Order's agenda of Brotherly Love. Their motto was: Philanthropy, conviviality and social intercourse.

The charity raises money by organising shows, lunches, dinners and other events. The objectives of the charity are "to assist members of the theatrical profession, or their dependents, who, due to illness or old age are in need." When possible additional funds raised go to a diverse range of charities and good causes including hospitals, health charities and benevolent funds. A member of the public can become a Friend of the Water Rats.

The Water Rats originally held meetings in [[Sunbury-on-Thames]] in a public house called The Magpie. Their headquarters is now at [[The Water Rats]] pub in [[Gray's Inn Road]] in [[Kings Cross, London]].

==Members==
[[File:1991 Aug BabyRats Bob & Zachary Hope GOWR UK vT.jpg|thumb|140px|right|Newly inaugurated Bob Hope (right) emerges from ceremonies at the Hilton in London alongside grandson Zachary Hope – August 1991]]
Membership is limited to 180 male members of the entertainment industry plus 20 Companion Rats. Some Water Rats are household names but many are not, but all must be respected and trusted by their peers. Joining the Order is a complicated process that involves finding a proposer and seconder within the Order, consideration by the Order's Grand Council and finally a vote which needs a large majority for success.

Members of the order wear a small gold emblem shaped as a [[European water vole|water rat]] on the left lapel of their jackets, and if one Water Rat meets another who is not wearing his emblem he is fined, with the money going to charity. Magician [[David Nixon (magician)|David Nixon]] wore his while appearing on television, explaining that as current King Rat he could be fined by any other member who saw him on screen without it.

There is also a small number of Companion Rats, distinguished men from various fields of business and influence who are not performers but who have achieved recognition for their support and friendship of the Order. These include [[Lakeside Leisure Complex|Bob Potter]] OBE, the late [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh]], [[King Charles III]] and [[Prince Michael of Kent]].

==King Rats==
The first King Rat, who is the head of the charity, was the [[music hall]] singer [[Harry Freeman (music hall performer)|Harry Freeman]]. The comedian [[Dan Leno]] joined in 1890 and was King Rat in 1891, 1892 and 1897.<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.gowr.net/History/danleno.html |title=Leno and the Grand Order of Water Rats|website=Gowr.net|access-date=7 October 2019))</ref> The post is usually held for one year.

Previous King Rats include:<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.gowr.net/Members/pastkingrats.html |title=List of Past King Rats – Grand Order of Water Rats website|website=Gowr.net|access-date=7 October 2019))</ref>
((div col|colwidth=18em|small=yes))
* 1890 [[Harry Freeman (music hall performer)|Harry Freeman]]
* 1891 [[Dan Leno]]
* 1892 Dan Leno
* 1893 [[Wal Pink]]
* 1894 [[Joe Elvin]]
* 1895 [[J. W. Cragg]]
* 1896 [[Eugene Stratton]]
* 1897 Dan Leno
* 1898 [[Joe O'Gorman (senior)]]
* 1899 [[Paul Martinetti]]
* 1900 Eugene Stratton
* 1901 Joe O'Gorman
* 1902 Wal Pink
* 1903 [[Fred Russell (ventriloquist)|Fred Russell]]
* 1904 Tom McNaughton
* 1905 [[Arthur Reece]]
* 1906 [[Little Tich]]
* 1907 J. Allison
* 1908 [[W. H. Clemart]]
* 1909 Fred Ginnett
* 1910 C. Warren
* 1911 [[Harry Tate]]
* 1912 [[Charles Austin (comedian)|Charles Austin]]
* 1913 Charles Austin
* 1914 Fred Russell
* 1915 [[William Bankier]]
* 1916 [[Lew Lake]]
* 1917 Lew Lake
* 1918 Charles Austin
* 1919 William Bankier
* 1920 Deane Tribune
* 1921 George D'Albert
World Upheaval – Lodge suspended until 1927
* 1927 Charles Austin
* 1928 Charles Austin
* 1929 Fred Russell
* 1930 [[Talbot O'Farrell]]
* 1931 [[Will Hay]]
* 1932 Charles Austin
* 1933 Joe Morrison
* 1934 [[Will Fyffe]]
* 1935 [[Marriott Edgar]]
* 1936 [[Wee Georgie Wood|George Wood]]
* 1937 [[Stanley Damerell]]
* 1938 Fred Miller
* 1939 Fred Russell
* 1940 Will Hay
* 1941 John Sharman
* 1942 George Jackley
* 1943 Tom Moss
* 1944 George Doonan
* 1945 [[Bud Flanagan]]
* 1946 [[Teddy Brown]] (died) / Bud Flanagan
* 1947 [[Robb Wilton]]
* 1948 [[Albert Whelan]]
* 1949 [[Ted Ray (comedian)|Ted Ray]]
* 1950 Ted Ray
* 1951 Bud Flanagan
* 1952 [[Charlie Chester]]
* 1953 [[Ben Warriss]]
* 1954 [[George Elrick]]
* 1955 [[Tommy Trinder]]
* 1956 [[Joe O'Gorman|Dave O'Gorman]]
* 1957 Cyril Dowler
* 1958 [[Clarkson Rose]]
* 1959 Johnny Riscoe
* 1960 Arthur Scott
* 1961 Ben Warriss
* 1962 Ben Warriss
* 1963 Tommy Trinder
* 1964 Ted Ray
* 1965 Tommy Trinder
* 1966 [[Arthur Haynes]]
* 1967 Terry Cantor
* 1968 [[Frankie Vaughan]]
* 1969 Harry Seltzer
* 1970 Phil Hindin
* 1971 [[George Martin (comedian)|George Martin]]
* 1972 Albert Stevenson
* 1973 George Elrick
* 1974 Cyril Dowler
* 1975 [[Joe Church]]
* 1976 [[David Nixon (magician)|David Nixon]]
* 1977 David Nixon
* 1978 [[Don Ross (theatre producer)|Donald Ross]]
* 1979 [[David Berglas]]
* 1980 [[Henry Cooper]]
* 1981 [[The Bachelors|Declan Cluskey]]
* 1982 Charlie Smithers
* 1983 [[Len Lowe]]
* 1984 [[Davy Kaye]]
* 1985 [[Les Dawson]]
* 1986 [[Alan Freeman]]
* 1987 [[Danny La Rue]]
* 1988 [[Bernard Bresslaw]]
* 1989 [[Roy Hudd]]
* 1990 [[David Lodge (actor)|David Lodge]]
* 1991 [[Wyn Calvin]]
* 1992 [[Bert Weedon]]
* 1993 [[John Inman]]
* 1994 [[Roger De Courcey]]
* 1995 [[Paul Daniels]]
* 1996 Paul Daniels
* 1997 [[Bob and Alf Pearson|Alf Pearson]]
* 1998 Frankie Vaughan
* 1999 [[Gorden Kaye]]
* 2000 Roy Hudd
* 2001 [[Don Smoothey]]
* 2002 Keith Simmons
* 2003 [[Chas McDevitt]]
* 2004 Chas McDevitt
* 2005 [[Melvyn Hayes]]
* 2006 [[Kaplan Kaye]]
* 2007 Kaplan Kaye
* 2008 Kaplan Kaye
* 2009 [[Graham Cole]]
* 2010 [[Derek Martin]]
* 2011 Keith Simmons
* 2012 [[Joe Pasquale]]
* 2013 [[Jess Conrad]]
* 2014 [[Rick Wakeman]]
* 2015 Rick Wakeman
* 2016 Ian Richards
* 2017 Ian Richards
* 2018 Adger Brown
* 2019 [[Nicholas Parsons]]
* 2020 [[Duggie Brown]]
* 2021 Duggie Brown
* 2022 Duggie  Brown
* 2023 [[Chris Emmett]]
* 2024 Richard Gauntlett
((div col end))

==Grand Order of Lady Ratlings==
The Grand Order of Lady Ratlings (GOLR), a sister organisation for female performers and for wives, sisters and daughters of male performers, was established in 1929, when [[Fred Russell (ventriloquist)|Fred Russell]] was King Rat of the GOWR.  His wife, Lillian Russell, was installed as the first Queen Ratling.  From 1965, membership was restricted to "recognised performers, those directly connected with the theatrical profession, wives of Water Rats and Companion Rats."   In 1931, Minnie O'Farrell, the wife of [[Talbot O'Farrell]], initiated the 'Cup of Kindness', which subsequently became a recognised charity.<ref>[https://www.golr.org.uk/our-history The Grand Order of Lady Ratlings: Our History]. Retrieved 24 February 2021</ref>

== Publication ==
''The Trap'' was the official publication of the Grand Order of Water Rats.<ref name="OAC Laurel & Hardy" />

==References==

((reflist|30em|refs=

<ref name="OAC Laurel & Hardy">((cite web |ref=((SfnRef|"Laurel & Hardy Collection")) |title=Inventory of the Thomas W. Sefton Laurel and Hardy Collection |url=https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt3w1034cm/dsc/ |publisher=OAC – [[Online Archive of California]] |access-date=September 28, 2022)) ((OCLC|874031253)).</ref>

))

==External links==
* [http://www.gowr.net/ Grand Order of Water Rats website]
* ((EW charity|292201))
* [http://www.freemasonrytoday.com/more-news/lodges-chapters-a-individuals/rick-wakeman-elected-king-rat-2014-the-grand-order-of-water-rats Rick Wakeman elected King Rat by Grand Order of Water Rats] at Freemasonry Today

((Authority control))

((DEFAULTSORT:Grand Order Of Water Rats))
[[Category:Charities based in London]]
[[Category:Fraternal orders]]
[[Category:1889 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1889]]
[[Category:Secret societies in the United Kingdom]]

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