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 Saturdays. You'll also find that copies of some of 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 Saturdays. You'll also find that copies of some of 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.
Forthcoming Events: April and May 2024
Here is a list of forthcoming Cray 150 book launches and illustrated talks during Spring 2024:
Thursday 25th and Friday 26th April 2024: Curiosities of the Crays. Illustrated Talk at Chelsfield Village Hall; repeated at Farnborough Village Hall the next day. 10.30am to 11.30am Admission free (Donation for refreshments).
Wednesday 15th May 2024: Curiosities of Orpington. Illustrated Talk at Orpington Library. 10.30am to 11.30am. Admission free (Donation for refreshments). This event is aprt of the Orpington Literary Festival 2024.
Here is a list of forthcoming Cray 150 book launches and illustrated talks during Spring 2024:
Thursday 25th and Friday 26th April 2024: Curiosities of the Crays. Illustrated Talk at Chelsfield Village Hall; repeated at Farnborough Village Hall the next day. 10.30am to 11.30am Admission free (Donation for refreshments).
Wednesday 15th May 2024: Curiosities of Orpington. Illustrated Talk at Orpington Library. 10.30am to 11.30am. Admission free (Donation for refreshments). This event is aprt of the Orpington Literary Festival 2024.
Cray Wanderers FC: A Historic Landmark for London's Oldest Football Club
The month of February 2024 brought a historic landmark in the 164-years history of Cray Wanderers FC. The first competitive match at the new Flamingo Park ground took place on Sunday 4th February with the Cray Ladies team hosting Oakwood Ladies in the South East Counties League. Mark Hunt's photo shows action from Cray's 2 - 0 win at this grand official opening of the 3G pitch and floodlights at the club's new headquarters beside the A20 Sidcup by-pass.
Cray 150 Publications was founded in 2010 marking the 150th anniversary of Cray Wanderers FC (founded 1860). Our first book Forever Amber was a history of the club. Since then we have diversified into publishing books on a wide range of topics including local history, poetry and sport Cray Wanderers FC nevertheless remains a bedrock of our publishing enterprise. To read more about the club's 164 years of 'wandering' across and sometimes outside the local borough to play its home matches before securing its new home at Flamingo Park please visit the club's official website https://www.cray-wanderers.com. Meanwhile on our Cray 150 website you can click on the Cray Wanderers at Flamingo Park tab to read our page.
The month of February 2024 brought a historic landmark in the 164-years history of Cray Wanderers FC. The first competitive match at the new Flamingo Park ground took place on Sunday 4th February with the Cray Ladies team hosting Oakwood Ladies in the South East Counties League. Mark Hunt's photo shows action from Cray's 2 - 0 win at this grand official opening of the 3G pitch and floodlights at the club's new headquarters beside the A20 Sidcup by-pass.
Cray 150 Publications was founded in 2010 marking the 150th anniversary of Cray Wanderers FC (founded 1860). Our first book Forever Amber was a history of the club. Since then we have diversified into publishing books on a wide range of topics including local history, poetry and sport Cray Wanderers FC nevertheless remains a bedrock of our publishing enterprise. To read more about the club's 164 years of 'wandering' across and sometimes outside the local borough to play its home matches before securing its new home at Flamingo Park please visit the club's official website https://www.cray-wanderers.com. Meanwhile on our Cray 150 website you can click on the Cray Wanderers at Flamingo Park tab to read our page.
New Book! (1) March 2024
Transistor Radio at the Wedding is out now in our series of very popular and attractive football nostalgia books.
In this book we celebrate the 1960s when the top football stars included George Best, Bobby Charlton, Jimmy Greaves, Denis Law and Bobby Moore. England won the World Cup in 1966 and there were triumphs in European club competition for some of our top English and Scottish clubs.
But how was football reported in those days? There was no internet: so no instant news, results, latest tables, etc to be found at the press of a keypad. There was however a new invention that speeded up communication. The transistor radio! Not just to get the latest football and sports news on the move: to hear the Beatles, the Stones, the pirate radio stations and the newly-launched BBC Radio One, too!
Transistor Radio at the Wedding is out now in our series of very popular and attractive football nostalgia books.
In this book we celebrate the 1960s when the top football stars included George Best, Bobby Charlton, Jimmy Greaves, Denis Law and Bobby Moore. England won the World Cup in 1966 and there were triumphs in European club competition for some of our top English and Scottish clubs.
But how was football reported in those days? There was no internet: so no instant news, results, latest tables, etc to be found at the press of a keypad. There was however a new invention that speeded up communication. The transistor radio! Not just to get the latest football and sports news on the move: to hear the Beatles, the Stones, the pirate radio stations and the newly-launched BBC Radio One, too!
New Book! (2) March 2024
Score Direct from a Bounce-Up is out now too in our series of very popular and attractive football nostalgia books.
This time the football nostalgia crosses the spectrum of the 1960s through to the early 2000s with a geographical spread of Football League and non-League clubs and grounds in Essex, Kent, London, Surrey and Sussex.
These two super little books Transistor Radio at the Wedding and Score Direct from a Bounce-Up are guaranteed to be a fun and interesting read! Price £2.95 each or £5 the pair.
To be published at the Cray Wanderers FC home match versus Folkestone Invicta at Hayes Lane on Sunday 24th March 2024 (kick-off 3pm) and at the Croft Tea Room from that date.
Score Direct from a Bounce-Up is out now too in our series of very popular and attractive football nostalgia books.
This time the football nostalgia crosses the spectrum of the 1960s through to the early 2000s with a geographical spread of Football League and non-League clubs and grounds in Essex, Kent, London, Surrey and Sussex.
These two super little books Transistor Radio at the Wedding and Score Direct from a Bounce-Up are guaranteed to be a fun and interesting read! Price £2.95 each or £5 the pair.
To be published at the Cray Wanderers FC home match versus Folkestone Invicta at Hayes Lane on Sunday 24th March 2024 (kick-off 3pm) and at the Croft Tea Room from that date.
Curiosities of the Crays ... and Curiosities of Orpington
Local authors Richard Bowdery and Jerry Dowlen who staged two successful full-house events at the Orpington Literary Festival in May 2023 have paired up again with two new little local history books Curiosities of the Crays and Curiosities of Orpington published in October 2023.
Our Books
Here is a list of all our Cray 150 published books.
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/2023/05/10/how-to-purchase-your-copy-of-let-sleeping-dogs-stand/
When Harry Met Cray (2023)
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)
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.
Sign Here! (2018) *** SOLD OUT ***
A review of blue plaques, monuments and town & village signs of special interest in the London Borough of Bromley.
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.
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/2023/05/10/how-to-purchase-your-copy-of-let-sleeping-dogs-stand/
When Harry Met Cray (2023)
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)
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.
Sign Here! (2018) *** SOLD OUT ***
A review of blue plaques, monuments and town & village signs of special interest in the London Borough of Bromley.
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)
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)
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)
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)
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.
The City of London: Wandering and Wondering (2013) *** SOLD OUT ***
Jerry Dowlen’s personal history of the City of the London and his time working at Lloyd’s of London insurance.
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: enquirycray150@gmail.com 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.
The City of London: Wandering and Wondering (2013) *** SOLD OUT ***
Jerry Dowlen’s personal history of the City of the London and his time working at Lloyd’s of London insurance.
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: enquirycray150@gmail.com Some of our local history books are stocked by Bromley Libraries on the lending &/or reference shelves. .