Sheep reclaimed one of London's busiest river crossings on Sunday as Southwark Bridge, which spans the Thames in the heart of the capital, hosted its annual Sheep Drive — a colourful charity event that blends medieval tradition with modern fundraising. Around 1,500 Freemen of the City of London and their guests took part in the procession, joined by rare-breed sheep, live shearing demonstrations, and a wool fair featuring approximately 40 stalls.

The event honours a centuries-old privilege once held by Freemen of the City — a historic honorary status granted by the Corporation of London — who had the right to drive livestock across the Thames without paying a toll. Though that custom faded long ago, the modern incarnation of the Sheep Drive was revived in 2013 by the Worshipful Company of Woolmen, one of the City of London's ancient livery companies, or medieval trade guilds.

This year's drive carried particular personal significance. Television presenter Gloria Hunniford, 86, led the flock for the first time, wielding a shepherd's crook adorned with a pink ribbon as a tribute to her daughter, Caron Keating, who died of breast cancer in 2004. Hunniford, who received the Freedom of the City earlier this year, was among participants who dressed as shepherds or the nursery-rhyme character Little Bo Peep, lending the occasion a festive atmosphere. The sheep themselves — sourced from a family-run farm in Bedfordshire, a county north of London — were specifically chosen for their calm temperament around large crowds.

Proceeds from the event support two causes: The Woolmen Charity, which funds education, research, scholarships and innovation in the wool sector while promoting sustainable practices and preserving the heritage of the British wool industry; and The Lord Mayor's Appeal, a City of London fundraising initiative that backs projects tackling social challenges such as youth unemployment, education, inclusion, health and poverty.

The Sheep Drive offers a rare moment when an ancient civic ritual finds renewed purpose. By channelling nostalgia for medieval London into tangible charitable impact, the event underscores how historic institutions can adapt to address contemporary needs — drawing both locals and visitors to witness something that is, by any measure, an unusual sight on a central London bridge.