The King of the United Kingdom and The Queen of Herts - Holywell George V Playing Fields parkrun #5 - 21/02/26

The statue of George V in Old Palace Yard, Westminster, London. Photo credit; Andrew Shiva / Wikipedia / CCBY-SA 4.0

In May 1910, George V came to the throne, becoming His Majesty King George V, King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Defender of the Faith, and Emperor of India. His reign, which ended in 1936, saw the UK undergo considerable transformation, leading the Nation to victory in World War One, women being given the right to vote, the emergence of the Labour Party, political reform, and the changing of the Royal Family's name from Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to Windsor. 

After his death, at that time the Lord Mayor of London, Sir Percy Vincent, formed a committee to determine a suitable national memorial for the late King. Along with a statue in London, they decided upon creating the King George Field's Foundation. The role of this was ‘to promote and to assist in the establishment throughout the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland of playing fields for the use and enjoyment of the people, every such playing field to be styled King George’s Field…’. This is the origins for Holy King George V Playing Fields parkrun, situated inside the M25. For myself and many others its essential for completing or retaining the LonDone status.

Started in January 2026, today was event no. 5 with 209 participants and 26 volunteers in attendance. The course is a relatively flat three-and-three-quarter anti-clockwise loops on silt paths largely following the perimeter of the park. Although it wasn’t raining, the week's incessant downpours meant the course was muddy and slippery in places. One 90-degree corner becoming increasingly treacherous with each lap. When dry, this will be a quick course.

I was accompanied by two of my parkrun ‘ride or die’ tourist friends, and my wife. Between the 4 of us, we’ve done 1,765 parkruns to date. Today, we were here to reclaim our LonDone status and experience the magic of a Saturday morning adventure to a place we would otherwise unlikely ever visit. 

Kristy and Gemma are two of my 'ride or die' parkrun friends. Photo credit Kristy Foster.

The event starts behind the Community Centre and has a rich grassroots community feel. I lined up with the regulars and the tourists, and was one of the 50% doing the event for the first time. Some of the tourists were very distinctive in their full Cow Cowl attire and there were the Three peas in a parkrun who I met at Peckham Rye parkrun last year. 

Cow Cowls! Photo credit Gemma Southren.

I hadn’t run all week, wanting to give my shoulder a chance to heal, and with slippery conditions ahead, my main goal was simply to not fall over. 

Whilst there were a few hairy moments on one corner, I made it round and was able to cheer my friends and other participants. Milling around at the end for pictures and chat, I got talking to the Queen of Herts, aka Harriet and Ruth, seasoned parkrun tourists who have done all 18 parkruns in Hertfordshire. If I can complete all the parkruns in Hertfordshire, I’ll become a King of Herts 🙂 You can see which 18 parkruns are needed to achieve this parkrun challenge by clicking here.

Harriet and Ruth are Queens of Herts.

You can see which 18 parkruns are needed to achieve this parkrun challenge by clicking here.

We brunched at Charlie's Cafe on Vicarage Road with a brunch fit for parkrunners regaining their LonDone crowns.   

Brunch was Royal but not served by 'that' Charlie.

The King George Foundation was dissolved in 1965 with 471 King George Playing Fields all over the UK. They are legally protected by Fields in Trust, managed locally by either councils of local trustees and providing places for parkruns to start. Whether you are a Queen of Herts or the King of the United Kingdom, parkrun remains inclusive to all.

His Majesty the King was at Sandringham parkrun on 31st January 2026. Photo credit; The Royal Family.

Happy running, walking, or volunteering.  

www.horizons.uk

At Buckingham Palace for my sister, Samenua Sesher's investiture ceremony. The order was established in June 1917 by King George V.

You can read about how parkrun was created by the founder, Paul Sinton-Hewitt, a care leaver, in his book ‘One Small Step’, The Definitive Account of how a run became a Global Movement by clicking here.