From the Norwood News – Saturday 29 March 1913

HOT CROSS BUN DISTRIBUTION

Early on Good Friday morning remarkable scenes were witnessed at Merton, when a free distribution of hot-cross buns to the poor children of the district took place. The distribution, organised by Mr. and Mrs. G. A. Richardson, of Wimbledon, assisted by other helpers, attracted a large crowd of children from all the poorest parts of South London. Some, led by others, were blind, others were on crutches. Many were deformed and walked with difficulty. Several of the children who had heard of the distribution had walked from Croydon, a distance of about seven miles. Others came from Bermondsey, Tooting, and Mitcham. The distribution took place at the Merton Skating Rink at eight o’clock. A large staff of helpers assisted Mr. and Mrs. Richardson in giving the buns away. It took the procession of children, marshalled four deep, nearly an hour to pass the table. Each child received four buns, and when all had been satisfied the remaining buns were distributed amongst the mothers, a large number of whom were in attendance.

Another newspaper reported that it attracted 4,000 children:-

London Daily Chronicle – Saturday 22 March 1913

SEVEN MILE WALK FOR HOT-CROSS BUNS, REMARKABLE SCENE AT MERTON.

The announcement that Mr. and Mrs. G. A, Richardson, of Wimbledon, would make a free distribution of hot-cross buns to poor children at Merton was responsible for a remarkable gathering yesterday. About 4,000 children from all parts of South London (says a local correspondent) tramped to Merton in the inclement weather which prevailed in the morning.

Some of the youngsters led companions who were blind, some came on crutches, and others were deformed and walked with difficulty, while about 500 of the motley crowd were bootless and stockingless.

The words “free distribution” evidently led to the impression that the recipients could have as many buns as they chose, for a number of them brought baskets almost as big as themselves. Even had their dreams been realised their loads of buns would have been too heavy for them to carry. Unless this was their conception of a “free distribution,” it is scarcely to be conceived that many of them would have trudged from such distant places as Croydon (seven miles away), Bermondsey and Tooting, as was actually the case. There was, however, a very large supply of buns. Each child received four, and there remained a large pile, which were distributed among a number of poor women. When all the buns had been given away several pounds of currants which had fallen from them were found at the bottom of the boxes, and these were poured into the aprons of the women.

The Merton Skating Rink referred was the building on Merton High Street, at the corner of Mill Road, which had opened in 1909. It became the Wimbledon Palais in 1922.