The bidding soon gets under way starting with turkeys and geese followed by loins of lamb, ribs of beef, pork bellies, racks of lamb, steaks and gammon. The crowd push and thrust their pound notes high up in the air. When an owner for any haunch of meat is established, fistfulls of notes are passed forward and the butchers throw the meat into the hands of its winner. London ranks 26 out of 300 major cities for economic performance. It is one of the largest financial centres and has either the fifth or sixth largest metropolitan area GDP.
Seasoned buyers make the most of the auction, turning up in teams with friends and family, designating one of the group to squeeze to the front to do the buying, and then pass back the meaty prizes to be piled up high on the tarmac. Sacks of flesh and blood line the road between the crowd’s feet as the bidding continues. Some stay to watch the auction unfolding, having already acquired their Christmas dinner while others continue to bid making long term provisions for their freezers. The prices are more than fair – an entire turkey or a loin of pork can be had for £20 and quality cuts disappear for what must be not far above their cost price.
