Meetings 2025

All meetings are held in St Lawrence's Community Hall, Hamilton Road, Sidcup, starting at 7.30pm. 

There is a public car park opposite the church, off Main Road. Please note parking charges now apply after 6pm. 

For visitors there is a fee of £5.00 which includes a drink and a biscuit.

We are pleased to welcome members, prospective new members and visitors to our monthly meetings.

7 January: Lesnes Abbey, by Chris Hawkins

4 February: The Forgotten Heroes of Postman's Park, by Dr John Price

4 March: The Canals of Kent (and a little bit of Old Surrey), by Alan Medley

Canals were one of the greatest inventions of the industrial revolution, initially allowing the mass movement of coal to power the new machinery. In parts of the country people now enjoy walking or cycling along the towpaths of the picturesque old canals, and watching the fascinating choreography of the locks taking boats up and down hill. Some of us have holidayed on narrowboats for a leisurely cruise, but have you ever wondered why we don’t have canals in our part of the world? Alan will explore why we had a shortage of canals, look at the canals we did have not far from here, and highlight the preservation work that is going on nearby to bring some of our old waterways back to life.

1 April: Refugees in Chislehurst during World War Two, by Joanna Friel

6 May: The Blitz in Bexley, by Peter Daniel

3 June: Tithe War in England and Wales 1891-1936, by Dr John Bulaitis

1 July: Eynsford Castle, by Laurie Johnson

2 September: Title to be confirmed, by Christoph Bull

7 October: AGM, followed by Commonwealth War Graves Commission, by Julie Chandler

The Great War resulted in the loss of millions of lives, many of whom were buried where they fell. Discover the history of those famous white headstones which sadly adorn many a churchyard and cemetery, both in the UK and abroad, and the man behind them. Originally founded as the Imperial War Graves Commission, the work of the CWGC continues today to remember those that made the ultimate sacrifice. This talk will also include a few CWGC graves and casualties in the Sidcup area. 

4 November: Greenwich Women, by Lyn Dixon

2 December: Christmas Social