{"id":474517,"date":"2026-03-22T21:32:44","date_gmt":"2026-03-22T21:32:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/?p=474517"},"modified":"2026-03-22T21:32:46","modified_gmt":"2026-03-22T21:32:46","slug":"massive-funeral-planned-for-local-traveller-and-daughter-of-the-old-king","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/bermondsey\/massive-funeral-planned-for-local-traveller-and-daughter-of-the-old-king\/","title":{"rendered":"Massive funeral planned for local traveller and daughter of &#8216;The Old King&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>The life of a &#8216;well-known&#8217; Irish traveller from Bermondsey is being celebrated with a huge procession from Dockhead to Forest Hill on Monday (March 23rd).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bridget Joyce, who sadly passed from a short illness on March 8th aged 59, was the eldest daughter of the late Michael O&#8217;Brien \u2013 who was known locally as &#8216;The Old King&#8217;.<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"69959\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448384\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">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<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>She had a big family and leaves behind her husband Davie, 6 children and 13 grandchildren, with another on the way.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The funeral will be held at 10am on Monday at the Most Holy Trinity Church in Dockhead, followed by a procession to Camberwell Old Cemetery in Forest Hill, where she will be laid to rest alongside her mother, father and brother. <\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"68153\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448385\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtMjY4MTkzNTMwMSIgY2xhc3M9InNvdXRoLWNvbnRlbnQgc291dGgtZW50aXR5LXBsYWNlbWVudCIgc3R5bGU9Im1hcmdpbi1sZWZ0OiBhdXRvO21hcmdpbi1yaWdodDogYXV0bzt0ZXh0LWFsaWduOiBjZW50ZXI7Ij48IS0tICAvMTU0NzI1MDcwLDIyNjk0MTk2OTY5L3NvdXRod2Fya25ld3Mvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cyAtLT4NCjxkaXYgaWQ9ImRpdi1ncHQtYWQtMngxIj4NCjxzY3JpcHQ+DQpnb29nbGV0YWcuY21kLnB1c2goZnVuY3Rpb24oKSB7IGdvb2dsZXRhZy5kaXNwbGF5KCdkaXYtZ3B0LWFkLTJ4MScpOyB9KTsNCjwvc2NyaXB0Pg0KPC9kaXY+ICAgICAgICAgIDwvZGl2Pg==<\/script>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"889\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/PHOTO-2022-11-18-15-56-49-e1669057204993-889x560.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-98432\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/PHOTO-2022-11-18-15-56-49-e1669057204993-889x560.jpg 889w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/PHOTO-2022-11-18-15-56-49-e1669057204993-444x280.jpg 444w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/PHOTO-2022-11-18-15-56-49-e1669057204993-768x484.jpg 768w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/PHOTO-2022-11-18-15-56-49-e1669057204993-750x472.jpg 750w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/PHOTO-2022-11-18-15-56-49-e1669057204993.jpg 1108w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 889px) 100vw, 889px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Bridget&#8217;s father, Michael O&#8217;Brien, was known locally as &#8216;The Old King&#8217;.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"444\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Bridget-an-and-her-husband-Davie-444x560.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-474560\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Bridget-an-and-her-husband-Davie-444x560.jpeg 444w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Bridget-an-and-her-husband-Davie-222x280.jpeg 222w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Bridget-an-and-her-husband-Davie-768x970.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Bridget-an-and-her-husband-Davie-1217x1536.jpeg 1217w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Bridget-an-and-her-husband-Davie-1622x2048.jpeg 1622w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Bridget-an-and-her-husband-Davie-116x146.jpeg 116w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Bridget-an-and-her-husband-Davie-1320x1667.jpeg 1320w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Bridget-an-and-her-husband-Davie-750x947.jpeg 750w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Bridget-an-and-her-husband-Davie-1140x1439.jpeg 1140w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Bridget-an-and-her-husband-Davie-scaled.jpeg 2028w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 444px) 100vw, 444px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Bridget and her husband Davie<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"688\" height=\"488\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Bridget-and-her-family.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-474561\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Bridget-and-her-family.jpeg 688w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Bridget-and-her-family-395x280.jpeg 395w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Bridget-and-her-family-206x146.jpeg 206w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Bridget-and-her-family-120x86.jpeg 120w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 688px) 100vw, 688px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Bridget (third from left) and her large family<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>&#8220;She was the backbone of the family,&#8221; said Bridget&#8217;s sister, Ann-Marie O\u2019Brien. &#8220;The family is devastated and she will be a big loss.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bridget was one of 15 children herself and their father Michael passed away in 2022. He had a &#8216;royal-themed&#8217; funeral through the streets of Bermondsey. Michael O&#8217;Brien has a total of 133 children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"71156\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448386\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtMjU5MDY0MjUyNiIgY2xhc3M9InNvdXRoLWluLWFydGljbGUtbXB1OSBzb3V0aC1lbnRpdHktcGxhY2VtZW50Ij48IS0tICAvMTU0NzI1MDcwLDIyNjk0MTk2OTY5L3NvdXRod2Fya25ld3Mvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cyAtLT4NCjxkaXYgaWQ9ImRpdi1ncHQtYWQtbXB1OSI+DQo8c2NyaXB0Pg0KZ29vZ2xldGFnLmNtZC5wdXNoKGZ1bmN0aW9uKCkgeyBnb29nbGV0YWcuZGlzcGxheSgnZGl2LWdwdC1hZC1tcHU5Jyk7IH0pOw0KPC9zY3JpcHQ+DQo8L2Rpdj4gICAgIDwvZGl2Pg==<\/script>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"drhOeRqHFKDpwGjsBSanb56v\"><div class=\"jeg_video_container jeg_video_content\"><iframe title=\"Massive funeral in Rotherhithe for Irish traveller known as &#039;The Old King&#039;\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/kI-Ww21bIZU?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1&#038;origin=https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Bridget&#8217;s own funeral will follow a similar theme, with hundereds of mourners expected, alongside horse-drawn carriages and six Rolls Royce to escort the &#8216;very large family&#8217;. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bridget and Ann-Marie&#8217;s mother, Veronica, also made <em>the News <\/em>in 1997, when she passed away and had a funeral that stopped traffic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bridget was the reason the entire O\u2019Brien family relocated to Elephant and Castle in the 1980s, following her from Ireland after she married David Joyce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>For anyone wanting to pay their respects, the funeral starts at 10am at the Most Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church in Dockhead, SE1. It will&nbsp;end at Camberwell Old Cemetery, SE22. <\/strong><\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"71157\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448387\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtMzc2MjM2NTQxNCIgY2xhc3M9InNvdXRoLWluLWFydGljbGUtbXB1LTEwIHNvdXRoLWVudGl0eS1wbGFjZW1lbnQiPjwhLS0gIC8xNTQ3MjUwNzAsMjI2OTQxOTY5Njkvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cy9zb3V0aHdhcmtuZXdzIC0tPg0KPGRpdiBpZD0iZGl2LWdwdC1hZC1tcHUxMCI+DQo8c2NyaXB0Pg0KZ29vZ2xldGFnLmNtZC5wdXNoKGZ1bmN0aW9uKCkgeyBnb29nbGV0YWcuZGlzcGxheSgnZGl2LWdwdC1hZC1tcHUxMCcpOyB9KTsNCjwvc2NyaXB0Pg0KPC9kaXY+ICAgICA8L2Rpdj4=<\/script>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-southwark-news wp-block-embed-southwark-news\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"7fGqWozVerEx8CtABs2AisX6mevBwYwHru9ljZ1pZuklyCqyxKS3U75IObkoKmJgLgNtW4UjMND1vnzQX8nE9D0YMGO\"><blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"ZawFJELLoM\"><a href=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/bermondsey\/bermondseys-funeral-singer-shares-her-story-and-unique-profession\/\">Bermondsey&#8217;s funeral singer shares her story and unique profession<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Bermondsey&#8217;s funeral singer shares her story and unique profession&#8221; &#8212; Southwark News\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/bermondsey\/bermondseys-funeral-singer-shares-her-story-and-unique-profession\/embed\/#?secret=c27uYmjUdz#?secret=ZawFJELLoM\" data-secret=\"ZawFJELLoM\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><br><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The life of a &#8216;well-known&#8217; Irish traveller from Bermondsey is being celebrated with a huge procession from Dockhead to Forest Hill on Monday (March 23rd). Bridget Joyce, who sadly passed from a short illness on March 8th aged 59, was the eldest daughter of the late Michael O&#8217;Brien \u2013 who was known locally as &#8216;The [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19233,"featured_media":474559,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":{"format":"standard","override":[{"template":"1","parallax":"1","fullscreen":"1","layout":"right-sidebar","sidebar":"default-sidebar","second_sidebar":"default-sidebar","sticky_sidebar":"1","share_position":"top","share_float_style":"share-monocrhome","show_share_counter":"1","show_view_counter":"1","show_featured":"1","show_post_meta":"1","show_post_author":"1","show_post_author_image":"1","show_post_date":"1","post_date_format":"default","post_date_format_custom":"Y\/m\/d","show_post_category":"1","show_post_reading_time":"0","post_reading_time_wpm":"300","post_calculate_word_method":"str_word_count","show_zoom_button":"0","zoom_button_out_step":"2","zoom_button_in_step":"3","show_post_tag":"1","show_prev_next_post":"1","show_popup_post":"1","show_comment_section":"1","number_popup_post":"1","show_author_box":"1","show_inline_post_related":"1"}],"image_override":[{"single_post_thumbnail_size":"crop-500","single_post_gallery_size":"crop-500"}],"trending_post_position":"meta","trending_post_label":"Trending","sponsored_post_label":"Sponsored by","disable_ad":"0","subtitle":"The funeral procession starts in Dockhead and ends in Forest Hill tomorrow Monday March 23rd"},"jnews_primary_category":{"id":"65"},"jnews_social_meta":[],"jnews_override_counter":{"view_counter_number":"0","share_counter_number":"0","like_counter_number":"0","dislike_counter_number":"0"},"footnotes":""},"categories":[65,7375,77,13539,13602,17333],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-474517","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bermondsey","category-community","category-elephant-and-castle","category-featured","category-news","category-obituaries"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/474517","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19233"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=474517"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/474517\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":474874,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/474517\/revisions\/474874"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/474559"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=474517"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=474517"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=474517"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}