Xavier Petulengro

Xavier Petulengro (8 July 1878 – 16 June 1957), more often known as Gipsy Petulengro, was a British Romanichal horse trader, violinist, businessman, writer and broadcaster, known as the "King of the Gypsies". He frequently broadcast on BBC radio in the 1930s and 1940s, and later wrote regular astrology columns in magazines as well as publishing his autobiography and several books on Romani lore.

Life Details of his birth and childhood are uncertain. Sources suggest that he was born in Rochdale, Lancashire, to a Romani family, and probably lived for part of his childhood near Galaţi in Romania, where his father traded Welsh ponies. He also used the family names Walter Lloyd and Walter Smith. According to his own autobiography, he was the grandson of Ambrose Smith (c.1804-1878), known as Jasper Petulengro, the semi-fictionalised subject of the books Lavengro and Romany Rye by George Borrow. In order to support this connection he antedated his birth to 1859. The name 'Petulengro', comes from the Sanskrit 'Petul' meaning horseshoe and 'Engro' from the Romani meaning man or thing, hence 'Blacksmith'.

Unusually among Gypsies at the time, he learned to read and write, later claiming that this was due to the assistance of Admiral Arthur Wilson VC of the Royal Navy and his sister, but also with the help of a farmer's wife, Martha Clark, in Whitehaven, Cumberland, where the family spent several winters. As a young man he followed his father into the horse-trading business, and also served in the British army, allegedly signing up after getting involved in a fight with a gamekeeper.

In the 1930s, he was regularly featured on BBC Radio's popular programme In Town Tonight, becoming known as "the famous broadcasting Gypsy". He also began writing articles on Gypsy lore and food for The Listener. As "King of the Gypsies" he officiated at other traditional weddings.

After the Second World War he went on to write an astrology column, "Your Fate in the Stars", in the Sunday Chronicle national newspaper. He died in Littlehampton, Sussex, on 16 June 1957, aged about 78. His funeral was held at Viney Hill, near Lydney in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, which he had visited many times and where he had said he wished to be buried. The funeral was arranged in traditional Romanichal style, with about 100 mourners in traditional costumes and some 1,500 sightseers.

Heritage After his death, Xavier Petulengro's business interests were continued by Leon Petulengro, who also became well known as a writer of popular astrology columns.