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Obituary Notice

The death is announced of  Mrs. Kathleen Cythia Frith (nee Henderson) better known throughout her, life as “Toni”. She will be best remembered as the founder and inspiration behind “The Button Queen “ business.

     Having started in business selling general antiques, when the lease was not renewed on her shop at the bottom of Camberwell Grove in South London, Toni resorted to going to Bermondsey Market on Fridays and the “Red Lion Market in Portobello Rd. on Saturday.

     What she dealt in, had to be carried on buses, to and from home. So that she quickly geared her trade around what she knew. Having studied costume at Goldsmith’s College, she was able to use that to her advantage, buying jewellery, costume and buttons> She leant her trade swiftly and often the hard, by making mistakes. “Toni” and a number of other experienced dealers, setup their own covered market, a short distance up the road, which they called Collector Corner.

     Then towards the end of the 1960’s, just for Carnaby Street took off. Toni moved to 1 Marlborough Court, off Carnaby St. To a tiny shop, 8ft x 5ft that had been a shoe repairer’s. This was her domain, small but unique. It became the place, to purchase unusual cuff links, often made from old buttons. After some years, space became a premium. She was able to find another prime, off street location, which was again to become better known, Saint Christophe’s Place. Thanks, in part, to her being there. This shop was bigger and more imposing. It was not unusual to see celebrities in, buying buttons, Shelley Bassey, George Epstein manager of the Beatles was often in. Even Bob Hope was told, “ you’ve got to go and see this limey broad” when you’re in London.

    After a happy nine years developers got their hand on the whole of St. Christopher and ripped the heart, and spirit of community out of it. A short move this time, just the other side of Wigmore St. to 19 Marylebone Lane which was the biggest shop yet. Suitably “Qwerky”, being on the apex of a triangle. This was to be the position of “The Button Queen” both as shop and owner until Toni Frith retired at 65. That was twenty years ago.

      After she retired she had a fairly mild heart attack and was told to take life more gently, so she took to “dog walking” as a volunteer for “The Friends of Animals League” at foal farm, Biggin Hill. Toni never known for doing things by half ended up as secretary and trustee.

      Her gradual decline into Dementia was all the more difficult to accept, because of her enthusiasm for life, her strong character and sharp sense of humour. Thankfully her only son Martyn, has carried forward “The Button Queen” name to new premises, just across the road from the old site at 76 Marylebone Lane, making more than thirty five years that the button shop has been around in the lane and almost sixty years since “Toni Frith”started to deal in Buttons.

    If you have any memories of the Button Queen, then the family would be very happy to receive any letters or E-mail send to the shop at 76 Marylebone Lane London W1U 2PR or Information @thebuttonqueen.co.uk