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 heritage of Orpington and the Crays.
Please see below on our Home page a list of Forthcoming Events and also a showcasing of our most recent community publications.
On the other pages of our website please find and enjoy a variety of local interest articles.
Richard Bowdery is the featured local author in our new page My Sixty Years of Living in the Crays. Thank you Richard for sharing with us your very interesting nostalgic memoir.
Illustration: A carpet of bluebells at Emmetts Garden, Ide Hill, Kent. The month of May is the prime time to visit and see this colourful display. It is one of the National Trust's most delightful treats in our near locality..
Cray 150 Publications aims to publish local interest books and to organise or support local events relating to the heritage of Orpington and the Crays.
Please see below on our Home page a list of Forthcoming Events and also a showcasing of our most recent community publications.
On the other pages of our website please find and enjoy a variety of local interest articles.
Richard Bowdery is the featured local author in our new page My Sixty Years of Living in the Crays. Thank you Richard for sharing with us your very interesting nostalgic memoir.
Illustration: A carpet of bluebells at Emmetts Garden, Ide Hill, Kent. The month of May is the prime time to visit and see this colourful display. It is one of the National Trust's most delightful treats in our near locality..
Forthcoming Events
Monday 16th May at Shortlands Library (2.15pm) - Illustrated Talk by Jerry Dowlen - Writers who who woke up 1960s women's fiction. Admission:free - tea / coffee and biscuits are provided. The Library address is Shortlands Road, Bromley BR2 0JP.
Thursday 19th May at The Croft Tea Room (2pm) - Monthly meeting of the Croft Book Club. Admission £6 for tea / coffee + cake. Come and join a friendly group that enjoys discussing books. Tell us about the book(s) that you have been reading lately. Hosted by Richard Gardner.
Monday 16th May at Shortlands Library (2.15pm) - Illustrated Talk by Jerry Dowlen - Writers who who woke up 1960s women's fiction. Admission:free - tea / coffee and biscuits are provided. The Library address is Shortlands Road, Bromley BR2 0JP.
Thursday 19th May at The Croft Tea Room (2pm) - Monthly meeting of the Croft Book Club. Admission £6 for tea / coffee + cake. Come and join a friendly group that enjoys discussing books. Tell us about the book(s) that you have been reading lately. Hosted by Richard Gardner.
Our Books
Here is a list of all our Cray 150 published books to date.
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) *** SEE IMAGE ***
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)
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 to date.
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) *** SEE IMAGE ***
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)
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)
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)
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)
Original writing and art by residents of the Crays and Orpington.
Dove on the Wing (2013)
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)
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.
Ken Collishaw: Cray Wanderers FC Goalscoring Legend (2006)
A short biography of star local footballer Ken Collishaw who played for Cray from 1954 to 1964.
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, 2022. E: enquirecray150@gmail.com
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)
Original writing and art by residents of the Crays and Orpington.
Dove on the Wing (2013)
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)
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.
Ken Collishaw: Cray Wanderers FC Goalscoring Legend (2006)
A short biography of star local footballer Ken Collishaw who played for Cray from 1954 to 1964.
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, 2022. E: enquirecray150@gmail.com
