Gloria Hunniford Leads Sheep Drive Across London Bridge for Charity

Television presenter Gloria Hunniford led a flock of sheep across London Bridge during a colourful charity event celebrating one of the historic traditions associated with the City of London.

The event brought together around 1,500 Freemen of the City and guests, alongside rare-breed sheep, live demonstrations and activities celebrating Britain's long association with the wool industry.

A Historic Tradition Revived

The Sheep Drive pays tribute to the historic privileges of the Freemen of the City of London, who were once entitled to drive livestock across the River Thames without paying a toll.

The modern charity version of the event was revived in 2013 and has since become an annual celebration combining London's history with fundraising.

For Hunniford, 86, the event marked her first time taking part in the Sheep Drive. She received the Freedom of the City of London earlier this year.

She led the flock carrying a shepherd's crook decorated with a pink ribbon in memory of her daughter, Caron Keating, who died from breast cancer in 2004.

Sheep, Shearing and Wool Fair

The event featured rare-breed sheep and live demonstrations of traditional sheep shearing. A wool fair also brought together around 40 stalls showcasing products and activities connected to the British wool industry.

Some participants embraced the occasion by dressing as shepherds, while others appeared in costumes inspired by Little Bo Peep.

The sheep were brought from a family-run farm in Bedfordshire and selected for their calm temperament, making them suitable for an event attended by large crowds.

Charity Fundraising

Proceeds from the event supported The Woolmen Charity, which provides assistance for education, research, scholarships and innovation connected to wool.

The charity also works to preserve the heritage of Britain's wool industry while encouraging more sustainable practices within the sector.

The event additionally supported The Lord Mayor's Appeal, a City of London fundraising initiative that backs charities and programmes tackling social challenges.

Its areas of focus include youth employment, education, inclusion, health and poverty.

Preserving Heritage Through Charity

The Sheep Drive combines historical tradition with modern charitable fundraising, bringing together members of the City of London community while highlighting the continuing cultural and economic significance of wool.

With thousands of people participating or attending, the event once again offered a distinctive display of London's heritage while raising funds for organisations working across education, social welfare and the wool sector.