Grand Order of Water Rats
Elvin was a Founder, in 1889, of the Grand Order of Water Rats, a show business charity which began life when a betting syndicate that had grown up around a trotting pony owned by Elvin agreed to donate any winnings to charity, gaining its name when someone referred to the pony during a rainy trip to the Derby as looking more like a water rat. Elvin served as 'King Rat' in 1894.
His interests included his extensive charitable and benevolent work and a lifelong interest in horse-racing, as owner, spectator, and keen gambler. He retired in the early 1920s and a benefit concert was held for him at the London Palladium in March 1923.
He appeared in the 1900 silent film The Rats.
Elvin is buried in Bandon Hill Cemetery in Wallington in Surrey beside his great friend and fellow music hall artiste Eugene Stratton.
Read more about this topic: Joe Elvin
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