Welcome to the Cray 150 Publications website!
Cray 150 Publications aims to publish local interest books and to organise or support local events relating to the arts and heritage of Orpington and the Crays. On the pages of this website you'll find information about our books and a range of what we hope are interesting and informative local themed articles.
If you'd like to browse and buy our books why not visit the Croft Tea Room at 263 High Street St Mary Cray where in addition to their menu of super tasty treats you can check out their delightful range of artwork, books, jewellery and other giftware. You'll certainly find local interest books galore, because community publishing is our speciality at Cray 150 featuring the splendid work of local artists, photographers and writers.
The Croft Tea Room is open from Wednesdays to Sundays. You'll also find that copies of some of our local history books are kindly stocked for borrowing or for reference in Orpington Library, St Paul's Cray Library and some of the other branches of Bromley Libraries.
Cray 150 Publications aims to publish local interest books and to organise or support local events relating to the arts and heritage of Orpington and the Crays. On the pages of this website you'll find information about our books and a range of what we hope are interesting and informative local themed articles.
If you'd like to browse and buy our books why not visit the Croft Tea Room at 263 High Street St Mary Cray where in addition to their menu of super tasty treats you can check out their delightful range of artwork, books, jewellery and other giftware. You'll certainly find local interest books galore, because community publishing is our speciality at Cray 150 featuring the splendid work of local artists, photographers and writers.
The Croft Tea Room is open from Wednesdays to Sundays. You'll also find that copies of some of our local history books are kindly stocked for borrowing or for reference in Orpington Library, St Paul's Cray Library and some of the other branches of Bromley Libraries.
Sign Here! Local History and Local Interest
Thank you to all who came to Orpington Library on 21st November to hear another of Jerry Dowlen's very popular illustrated local history talks.
This time Jerry's talk was Sign Here! on the topic of city, town and village monuments and signs that commemorate famous former residents of our London Borough of Bromley. Jerry's book that accompanies the talk is now published in a brand new second edition (October 2024) and is offered as a perfect gift, especially for Christmas, for informative and fun reading about famous people and attractive places in our locality.
You can purchase the Sign Here! book (Price: £4.95) at the Croft Tea Room or by post via e-mail [email protected]
For details of Jerry Dowlen's illustrated talks and how to book them please e-mail [email protected]
Thank you to all who came to Orpington Library on 21st November to hear another of Jerry Dowlen's very popular illustrated local history talks.
This time Jerry's talk was Sign Here! on the topic of city, town and village monuments and signs that commemorate famous former residents of our London Borough of Bromley. Jerry's book that accompanies the talk is now published in a brand new second edition (October 2024) and is offered as a perfect gift, especially for Christmas, for informative and fun reading about famous people and attractive places in our locality.
You can purchase the Sign Here! book (Price: £4.95) at the Croft Tea Room or by post via e-mail [email protected]
For details of Jerry Dowlen's illustrated talks and how to book them please e-mail [email protected]
Old football club ... New stadium!
Cray 150 is honoured to publish the bumper new local football club history book Wandering No More! Cray Wanderers Football Club 1860 to 2014.
This new book [Price: £19.95] coincides with a proud and landmark moment in the long history of the oldest football club in Kent and London. The Wands have built a new stadium at Flamingo Park on the A20 Sidcup by-pass and it is the first ever time that the famous old club has a ground of its own. Superbly put together by club historian and statistician Peter Goringe the book can be purchased at Cray Wanderers home matches at Flamingo Park at a special discounted price of £16.
For details how to purchase the book by post please e-mail us at [email protected]
Cray 150 is honoured to publish the bumper new local football club history book Wandering No More! Cray Wanderers Football Club 1860 to 2014.
This new book [Price: £19.95] coincides with a proud and landmark moment in the long history of the oldest football club in Kent and London. The Wands have built a new stadium at Flamingo Park on the A20 Sidcup by-pass and it is the first ever time that the famous old club has a ground of its own. Superbly put together by club historian and statistician Peter Goringe the book can be purchased at Cray Wanderers home matches at Flamingo Park at a special discounted price of £16.
For details how to purchase the book by post please e-mail us at [email protected]
May 2024: In his latest new book Phil Babbs celebrates the life and works of the Kent author Jocelyn Brooke (1908 - 1966). Phil informs us of the places that motivated the author to write his books that were variously autobiographical memoirs, fiction stories, poetry, biographies or studies of botany. In this attractive and informative little book we get to see the beautifully illustrated front covers of all of Brooke's books starting with his Military Orchid series of memoirs published in 1948.
'A unique being whose life and literary output has never achieved the wider recognition of which I believe it is fully deserving'. Phil Babbs, 2024.
Price £4.95 this new book can be purchased at the Croft Tea Room or via e-mail [email protected]
Orpington Literary Festival 2024
Thank you to all who came to hear and enjoy the illustrated talk Curiosities of Orpington at Orpington Library on Wednesday morning 15th May. In front of a full house local authors Richard Bowdery and Jerry Dowlen presented a selection of highlights from their new little local history books Curiosities of the Crays and Curiosities of Orpington published by Cray150 in October 2023. Guest poet Maureen Hillier kindly recited her Orpington poem. The event was part of the Orpington Literary Festival 2024. sponsored by Orpington 1st - GLL Better - Rotary South-East. For Richard and Jerry it was a follow-up to the two full house Orpington in Letters events that they staged during the Orpington Literary Festival of May 2023.
Photo (L to R): Richard Bowdery, Jerry Dowlen and Maureen Hillier.
Our Books
Here is a list of all our Cray 150 published books.
The City of London: Wandering and Wondering (second edition to be published in December 2024)
A walk in words around the City of the London past and present. This new (December 2024) second edition is an update of our now sold-out first book (2013).
Sign Here! (second edition October 2024)
A review of blue plaques, monuments and town & village signs of special interest in the London Borough of Bromley. This new (October 2024) second edition is an update of our now sold-out first book (2018).
Wandering No More! Cray Wanderers FC 1860 to 2024 (July 2024)
A bumper new and updated history of Kent and London's oldest football club who have just moved into their new stadium and first ever permanent home at Flamingo Park..
From Clambercrown to the Goose Cathedral (2024)
Celebrating the life and works of the Kent author Jocelyn Brooke
Transistor Radio at the Wedding (2024)
Score Direct from a Bounce-Up (2024)
Football nostalgia! from 1960s through to the 1990s.
Curiosities of the Crays (2023)
Curiosities of Orpington (2023)
These two local history light reads are full of information, comment and photos..
let sleeping dogs stand (2023)
Poems by Richard Bowdery. To purchase a copy please use this link:
richardbowderywriter.wordpress.com/poetry-books/
When Harry Met Cray (2023) *** SOLD OUT ***
Recalling the 1980s at Cray Wanderers and at other local football clubs in Kent and London.
Flash-Bang-Wallop! (2023)
Recalling the 1990s at Cray Wanderers and at other local football clubs in Kent and London.
Away-Days Cray (2022)
Adventures and stories of Cray Wanderers away match travels from 1894 to 2022.
Ken Collishaw 2nd edition (2022)
A nostalgic return to the 1950s and 1960s when Ken Collishaw scored goals! goals! goals!
Exciting Discoveries (2021)
Selected articles from Cray Wanderers football programmes from 1961 to 2021
Shirts that Stand the Strain (2021)
Adverts old and new in Cray Wanderers football programmes from 1900 to 2021
Our Covid Calendar (2021)
Original art and poetry by members and friends of the Croft Poetry Club.
Undertow (2021)
Michael Gould’s fictional story set in a London suburb and on the Isle of Anglesey, Wales in 1961.
The Tribute Programmes (2021)
Phil Babbs (editor) presents a selection of Cray Wanderers programme tribute articles 2010 and 2020.
Problem Solved! (2020)
Jerry Dowlen’s fictional short stories featuring Inspector Gledd the chess-playing Scotland Yard detective.
Crayons in my Scrapbook (2020)
Local football in the 1940s and 1950s featuring Cray Wanderers and other clubs from London and Kent.
Let Us See the Goals Go In (2019)
Local football in the 1960s featuring Cray Wanderers and other clubs from London and Kent.
Where Have All the Stars Gone (2019) *** SOLD OUT ***
Local football in the 1970s featuring Cray Wanderers and other clubs from London and Kent.
Beautiful Colours (2018) *** SOLD OUT ***
Original art and poetry by members and friends of the Croft Poetry Club.
There’s More to Say about Cray (2018)
More local history of the Crays told from the perspective of Cray Wanderers football club.
Here is a list of all our Cray 150 published books.
The City of London: Wandering and Wondering (second edition to be published in December 2024)
A walk in words around the City of the London past and present. This new (December 2024) second edition is an update of our now sold-out first book (2013).
Sign Here! (second edition October 2024)
A review of blue plaques, monuments and town & village signs of special interest in the London Borough of Bromley. This new (October 2024) second edition is an update of our now sold-out first book (2018).
Wandering No More! Cray Wanderers FC 1860 to 2024 (July 2024)
A bumper new and updated history of Kent and London's oldest football club who have just moved into their new stadium and first ever permanent home at Flamingo Park..
From Clambercrown to the Goose Cathedral (2024)
Celebrating the life and works of the Kent author Jocelyn Brooke
Transistor Radio at the Wedding (2024)
Score Direct from a Bounce-Up (2024)
Football nostalgia! from 1960s through to the 1990s.
Curiosities of the Crays (2023)
Curiosities of Orpington (2023)
These two local history light reads are full of information, comment and photos..
let sleeping dogs stand (2023)
Poems by Richard Bowdery. To purchase a copy please use this link:
richardbowderywriter.wordpress.com/poetry-books/
When Harry Met Cray (2023) *** SOLD OUT ***
Recalling the 1980s at Cray Wanderers and at other local football clubs in Kent and London.
Flash-Bang-Wallop! (2023)
Recalling the 1990s at Cray Wanderers and at other local football clubs in Kent and London.
Away-Days Cray (2022)
Adventures and stories of Cray Wanderers away match travels from 1894 to 2022.
Ken Collishaw 2nd edition (2022)
A nostalgic return to the 1950s and 1960s when Ken Collishaw scored goals! goals! goals!
Exciting Discoveries (2021)
Selected articles from Cray Wanderers football programmes from 1961 to 2021
Shirts that Stand the Strain (2021)
Adverts old and new in Cray Wanderers football programmes from 1900 to 2021
Our Covid Calendar (2021)
Original art and poetry by members and friends of the Croft Poetry Club.
Undertow (2021)
Michael Gould’s fictional story set in a London suburb and on the Isle of Anglesey, Wales in 1961.
The Tribute Programmes (2021)
Phil Babbs (editor) presents a selection of Cray Wanderers programme tribute articles 2010 and 2020.
Problem Solved! (2020)
Jerry Dowlen’s fictional short stories featuring Inspector Gledd the chess-playing Scotland Yard detective.
Crayons in my Scrapbook (2020)
Local football in the 1940s and 1950s featuring Cray Wanderers and other clubs from London and Kent.
Let Us See the Goals Go In (2019)
Local football in the 1960s featuring Cray Wanderers and other clubs from London and Kent.
Where Have All the Stars Gone (2019) *** SOLD OUT ***
Local football in the 1970s featuring Cray Wanderers and other clubs from London and Kent.
Beautiful Colours (2018) *** SOLD OUT ***
Original art and poetry by members and friends of the Croft Poetry Club.
There’s More to Say about Cray (2018)
More local history of the Crays told from the perspective of Cray Wanderers football club.
Marvellous Dreams (2017) *** SEE IMAGE ***
Original art and poetry by members and friends of the Croft Poetry Club.
So Long, C.U. (2017) *** SOLD OUT ***
More of Jerry Dowlen’s memoirs of working in the City of London.
The Best of Cray Chatter Volume Two (2017) *** SOLD OUT ***
More selected articles from the Cray Chatter local football magazine 1980 to 2002.
From my Window (2016) *** SOLD OUT ***
Original art and poetry by members and friends of the Croft Poetry Club.
The Croft Tea Room (2016)
Carol Wells tells her story of opening and running St Mary Cray’s very popular Tea Room from 2007 to 2015.
Win in Eleven Moves (2016)
Jerry Dowlen and a lifetime interest in the game of chess.
The Best of Cray Chatter Volume One (2016) *** SOLD OUT ***
Selected articles from the Cray Chatter local football magazine 1980 to 2002.
Raising the Roof (2015) *** SOLD OUT ***
Original art and poetry by members and friends of the Croft Poetry Club.
Original art and poetry by members and friends of the Croft Poetry Club.
So Long, C.U. (2017) *** SOLD OUT ***
More of Jerry Dowlen’s memoirs of working in the City of London.
The Best of Cray Chatter Volume Two (2017) *** SOLD OUT ***
More selected articles from the Cray Chatter local football magazine 1980 to 2002.
From my Window (2016) *** SOLD OUT ***
Original art and poetry by members and friends of the Croft Poetry Club.
The Croft Tea Room (2016)
Carol Wells tells her story of opening and running St Mary Cray’s very popular Tea Room from 2007 to 2015.
Win in Eleven Moves (2016)
Jerry Dowlen and a lifetime interest in the game of chess.
The Best of Cray Chatter Volume One (2016) *** SOLD OUT ***
Selected articles from the Cray Chatter local football magazine 1980 to 2002.
Raising the Roof (2015) *** SOLD OUT ***
Original art and poetry by members and friends of the Croft Poetry Club.
Wandering Through the Crays (2015) *** SEE IMAGE ***
A social history of St Mary Cray and its famous football club the Cray Wanderers. Articles, photos and memoirs by many current and former residents of the Crays.
Meandering Through the Millstream (2015)
A mini-booklet of selected articles from the church magazine of St Mary’s, St Mary Cray, from 1951 to 2015.
A Cray Compendium (2014) *** SOLD OUT ***
Original writing and art by residents of the Crays and Orpington.
Dove on the Wing (2013) *** SEE IMAGE ***
A biography of Donald Ward (1909 – 2003) Bromley poet and pacifist. Written by Richard Bowdery and Jerry Dowlen in conjunction with Mike Floate of Newlands Publishing.
Forever Amber (2011) *** SOLD OUT ***
Cray Wanderers FC History 1860 to 2010. Co-authors Jerry Dowlen and Peter Goringe; Editor: Mike Floate. Published to mark the 150th anniversary of London’s oldest football club Cray Wanderers.
After Football, Nothing Much Happens (2004)
A short biography of Donald Ward, Bromley poet and pacifist.
Jerry Dowlen is the Cray 150 Publications editor and webmaster, 2024 E: [email protected] Some of our local history books are stocked by Bromley Libraries on the lending &/or reference shelves. .
A social history of St Mary Cray and its famous football club the Cray Wanderers. Articles, photos and memoirs by many current and former residents of the Crays.
Meandering Through the Millstream (2015)
A mini-booklet of selected articles from the church magazine of St Mary’s, St Mary Cray, from 1951 to 2015.
A Cray Compendium (2014) *** SOLD OUT ***
Original writing and art by residents of the Crays and Orpington.
Dove on the Wing (2013) *** SEE IMAGE ***
A biography of Donald Ward (1909 – 2003) Bromley poet and pacifist. Written by Richard Bowdery and Jerry Dowlen in conjunction with Mike Floate of Newlands Publishing.
Forever Amber (2011) *** SOLD OUT ***
Cray Wanderers FC History 1860 to 2010. Co-authors Jerry Dowlen and Peter Goringe; Editor: Mike Floate. Published to mark the 150th anniversary of London’s oldest football club Cray Wanderers.
After Football, Nothing Much Happens (2004)
A short biography of Donald Ward, Bromley poet and pacifist.
Jerry Dowlen is the Cray 150 Publications editor and webmaster, 2024 E: [email protected] Some of our local history books are stocked by Bromley Libraries on the lending &/or reference shelves. .