Welcome to the Cray 150 Publications website.
Cray 150 Publications aims to organise or support arts & heritage activities in Orpington and the Crays.
The month of October is upon us! In his poem Tonight at Noon the Liverpool poet Adrian Henri wrote of 'the leaves falling upward to the trees'. Here at Cray 150 we cannot exactly promise that you will see this happening when you next go outdoors ... but there again, the Liverpool poet Roger McGough did once say that 'imagination is more important than information' ... .
Thank you to all who kindly purchase our books and support our events. Please come and join in with our activities this forthcoming autumn and in the run-up to Christmas.
Photo: Art Exhibition at St Paul's Cray branch library, October 2017 featuring work of the Cray Creative group (deserving winners of a Bromley Lifelong Learning Award.)
October 2017 Events
In October at St Paul's Cray branch library (Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays 9.30am to 5.30pm [5pm on Saturdays]): Art Exhibition by The Cray Creative. Admission Free. Well worth seeing the artistic work of local residents. Please note the library is always closed between 1pm and 2pm for lunchtime.
Wednesday 18th October at the Croft Tea Room (7pm - 8.30pm) - Croft Book Club monthly meeting. Theme: Gardens.
Thursday 19th October at St Mary's Church Centre (10.30am - 11.30am) - Croft Poetry Club meeting. Theme: Wendy Cope.
Thursday 19th October at St Paul's Cray Library (11.30am - 12.45pm). Please join Chris for her latest armchair walk through London. This month her slideshow and talk continues with the district of Fitzrovia. Admission free (small donation for refreshments).
Tuesday 24th October at The Vernon Hall, St Mary Cray High Street (8pm - 9pm). St Mary Cray Action Group monthly social meeting. Speaker: Robert Vale on the topic of Bromley Trading Standards & Community Safety. Admission £1 members; £3 non-members.
May we also highlight two special events coming up in November:
Thursday 9th November at St Paul's Cray Library (10.30am - 11.30am): The Mersey Sound. On the 80th birthday of the poet Roger McGough this is a tribute event staged by the Croft Poetry Club, featuring the work of the Liverpool Poets (Adrian Henri, Roger McGough, Brian Patten). Their debut poetry book The Mersey Sound was published fifty years ago in the autumn of 1967 and became one of the best-selling poetry books in living memory. Admission free (small donation for refreshments).
Saturday 25th November at the Croft Tea Room (11am - 12 noon): Book launch: A new anthology of art and poetry by members and friends of the Croft Poetry Club. With 27 local contributors this attractive little book promises to be another of our popular community publications. More details to follow at the start of November.
For details of our books and publications please see below.
The Best of Cray Chatter Volume Two
Our latest new book (August 2017) is a sequel to our very popular edition The Best of Cray Chatter Volume One published last year. Once again on the subject of Cray Wanderers football club we have selected for you to read and enjoy again some of the most interesting, entertaining and amusing articles that were published between 1980 and 2002 in the Cray Chatter local interest magazine.
You can buy this new book (£4.95) at Cray Wanderers home matches at Hayes Lane or at the Croft Tea Room in St Mary Cray.
Our latest new book (August 2017) is a sequel to our very popular edition The Best of Cray Chatter Volume One published last year. Once again on the subject of Cray Wanderers football club we have selected for you to read and enjoy again some of the most interesting, entertaining and amusing articles that were published between 1980 and 2002 in the Cray Chatter local interest magazine.
You can buy this new book (£4.95) at Cray Wanderers home matches at Hayes Lane or at the Croft Tea Room in St Mary Cray.
The City of London
March 2017: Jerry Dowlen has written a second book about the City of London. His new book So Long, C.U. is a sequel to his earlier book The City of London: Wandering and Wondering (2013).
Jerry's illustrated Talks about London are proving popular in our locality. Photo (left): Jerry and Laura at the Short Bites monthly lunchtime event at Orpington Library on 7th March when there was a full capacity attendance for the topic of Writers and Their Love of London.
For details of Jerry's two books about the City of London please click on the tab above.
March 2017: Jerry Dowlen has written a second book about the City of London. His new book So Long, C.U. is a sequel to his earlier book The City of London: Wandering and Wondering (2013).
Jerry's illustrated Talks about London are proving popular in our locality. Photo (left): Jerry and Laura at the Short Bites monthly lunchtime event at Orpington Library on 7th March when there was a full capacity attendance for the topic of Writers and Their Love of London.
For details of Jerry's two books about the City of London please click on the tab above.
November 2016: We announce the publication of the new little book From my Window original art & poetry by members and friends of the Croft Poetry Club. The book is priced at £2.50 and has contributions from 23 different people from the local community. Well done to each and all of them. The delightful photograph on the front cover is the work of Vanessa Allen.
The contributors are: Vanessa Allen, Richard D.J.J. Bowdery, Holly Campbell, Jackie Cook, Jim Cook, Steve Cotterell, Jerry Dowlen, Doubra Fufeyin, Beverley Gillard, Maureen Goulbourne, Douglas Hall, Maureen Hillier, Eva Idunorba, Debbie Ingram, Monica King, John Love, Jennie Milnes, Linda Needham, Joyce Oszvald, Paula Piggott, Christine Pope, Jenny Savile and Joan Smith.
The contributors are: Vanessa Allen, Richard D.J.J. Bowdery, Holly Campbell, Jackie Cook, Jim Cook, Steve Cotterell, Jerry Dowlen, Doubra Fufeyin, Beverley Gillard, Maureen Goulbourne, Douglas Hall, Maureen Hillier, Eva Idunorba, Debbie Ingram, Monica King, John Love, Jennie Milnes, Linda Needham, Joyce Oszvald, Paula Piggott, Christine Pope, Jenny Savile and Joan Smith.
The Croft Tea Room 2007 - 2015
Author: Carole Wells Published: November 2016
The author Carole Wells is the now-retired original founder and owner of St Mary Cray's most popular tea room and community hub. In this beautifully illustrated book Carole describes the Tearoom's fascinating journey from derelict building to heart and soul of its community. Price £3.95. All sale proceeds go to the Tea Room.
The first print run of Carole's book has fully sold out (11th December) but there will be a second print run and you will be able to buy the book at the Croft Tea Room in the New Year.
Author: Carole Wells Published: November 2016
The author Carole Wells is the now-retired original founder and owner of St Mary Cray's most popular tea room and community hub. In this beautifully illustrated book Carole describes the Tearoom's fascinating journey from derelict building to heart and soul of its community. Price £3.95. All sale proceeds go to the Tea Room.
The first print run of Carole's book has fully sold out (11th December) but there will be a second print run and you will be able to buy the book at the Croft Tea Room in the New Year.
The Best of Cray Chatter, Volume One
Hurry! Only a few unsold copies remaining. Copies (£4.95) can be purchased at Cray Wanderers FC home matches or at the Croft Tea Room in St Mary Cray.
Cray Chatter was a local interest magazine for supporters and friends of the Cray Wanderers football club. It ran to more than seventy issues between the years 1980 to 2002. There were many different contributors from the local community. Our new book recalls some of the most interesting, entertaining and humorous articles that appeared in the magazine.
Hurry! Only a few unsold copies remaining. Copies (£4.95) can be purchased at Cray Wanderers FC home matches or at the Croft Tea Room in St Mary Cray.
Cray Chatter was a local interest magazine for supporters and friends of the Cray Wanderers football club. It ran to more than seventy issues between the years 1980 to 2002. There were many different contributors from the local community. Our new book recalls some of the most interesting, entertaining and humorous articles that appeared in the magazine.
Raising the Roof
Original art and poetry from the Croft Poetry Club and friends.
Published on 10th April at St Mary's Church price £2 - all proceeds to the St Mary's Church Restoration Fund. This booklet can be obtained from St Mary's Church, St Mary Cray.
The contributors to this book are: Richard D.J.J. Bowdery, Betty Brewer, Les Cheeseman, Jim Cook, Steve Cotterell, Jerry Dowlen, Paul Garratt, Beverley Gillard, Douglas Hall, Maureen Hillier, Joyce Oszvald, Paula Piggott, Christine Pope, Lisa Winton and Pam Winton.
Here is a kind review of the book from a reader who is formerly a botanical illustrator: "It is beautifully produced and I think the poems and illustrations are all interesting. What a lovely idea to capture people's creativity and put it to such a worthwhile purpose."
Original art and poetry from the Croft Poetry Club and friends.
Published on 10th April at St Mary's Church price £2 - all proceeds to the St Mary's Church Restoration Fund. This booklet can be obtained from St Mary's Church, St Mary Cray.
The contributors to this book are: Richard D.J.J. Bowdery, Betty Brewer, Les Cheeseman, Jim Cook, Steve Cotterell, Jerry Dowlen, Paul Garratt, Beverley Gillard, Douglas Hall, Maureen Hillier, Joyce Oszvald, Paula Piggott, Christine Pope, Lisa Winton and Pam Winton.
Here is a kind review of the book from a reader who is formerly a botanical illustrator: "It is beautifully produced and I think the poems and illustrations are all interesting. What a lovely idea to capture people's creativity and put it to such a worthwhile purpose."
Win in Eleven Moves
The game of chess is played on a board with 64 squares. In the 64 pages of this book you'll find lots of amusing, surprising and interesting information about the history of the game, its past and present most famous players, and its enduring popularity in clubs and schools.
When was the only time that a world chess champion came to Bromley? When was a game of chess played for the first time in outer space? What is 'Alice' chess? - ''Blitz' chess? - and 'Blindfold' chess? Which famous British war hero pioneered the first chess-playing computer? You'll know the answers to these questions after you've read Jerry's enjoyable new book.
The game of chess is played on a board with 64 squares. In the 64 pages of this book you'll find lots of amusing, surprising and interesting information about the history of the game, its past and present most famous players, and its enduring popularity in clubs and schools.
When was the only time that a world chess champion came to Bromley? When was a game of chess played for the first time in outer space? What is 'Alice' chess? - ''Blitz' chess? - and 'Blindfold' chess? Which famous British war hero pioneered the first chess-playing computer? You'll know the answers to these questions after you've read Jerry's enjoyable new book.
Meandering Through the Millstream
Our little booklet takes a brief, nostalgic tour of Millstream, the former church magazine, during the period 1950 to 2015. There are reminders of the different front cover illustrations that have been produced during the years, including the superb drawings by John Blundell. And we have made a small selection of especially interesting and sometimes curious items that were printed inside the magazine by way of news stories or feature articles.
This booklet can be obtained from St Mary's Church, St Mary Cray.
Our little booklet takes a brief, nostalgic tour of Millstream, the former church magazine, during the period 1950 to 2015. There are reminders of the different front cover illustrations that have been produced during the years, including the superb drawings by John Blundell. And we have made a small selection of especially interesting and sometimes curious items that were printed inside the magazine by way of news stories or feature articles.
This booklet can be obtained from St Mary's Church, St Mary Cray.
. Wandering Through the Crays
A social history of St Mary Cray, Kent and its famous football club the Cray Wanderers.
Published on 18 April 2015 price £9.95. Copies may be purchased at the Croft Tea Room, St Mary Cray or at Cray Wanderers FC home matches.
February 2017: Hurry! Only a few unsold copies remaining
A social history of St Mary Cray, Kent and its famous football club the Cray Wanderers.
Published on 18 April 2015 price £9.95. Copies may be purchased at the Croft Tea Room, St Mary Cray or at Cray Wanderers FC home matches.
February 2017: Hurry! Only a few unsold copies remaining
A Cray Compendium
[Sorry! Fully sold out - October 2015] A collection of original art and writing from St Mary Cray and Orpington, Kent.
Published on 11 October 2014 price £9.95.
[Sorry! Fully sold out - October 2015] A collection of original art and writing from St Mary Cray and Orpington, Kent.
Published on 11 October 2014 price £9.95.
Forever Amber: Cray Wanderers FC 1860 - 2010.
Published in 2011. [ Hurry! Only a few unsold copies remaining.] The 150-year old history of our famous local football club Cray Wanderers - the oldest football club in London. The narrative story is illustrated with a superb array of old archive photographs and memorabilia, with emphasis on key periods in the club's development, leading players and personalities, trophies, and the search for a permanent home ground within the Crays district that will end the club's long exile since 1973.
Copies may be purchased at the Croft Tea Room, St Mary Cray or at Cray Wanderers FC home matches.
Copies may be purchased at the Croft Tea Room, St Mary Cray or at Cray Wanderers FC home matches.
Cray Wanderers Football Club - A Complete Statistical Record of 125 Years of Competitive Football.
[ Sorry! Fully sold out!] Peter Goringe provides the results of every league and cup match played by the Wands since the first competitive season of fixtures in 1889. Peter gives too the league tables from every season, plus match-by-match listings and goalscorers for all seasons from 1955-56 and player appearance records from the 1980s to 2014.
The City of London: Wandering and Wondering
Jerry Dowlen worked in the City of London from the days of the Swinging ‘Sixties till the New Millennium and the 2012 Olympics. In his book, 'Wandering and Wondering' Jerry celebrates his own personal favourites of the City’s historical, literary and architectural gems.
After Football, Nothing Much Happens.
Donald ‘Ted’ Ward was Orpington’s most famous poet of the modern era. He moved into the area after the Second World War. Ted published several volumes of poetry from 1971 until his death in February 2003 when he was aged 93. In this short tribute book to Ted, we celebrate his poetic associations with our local town of Orpington and the surrounding countryside. We also recall fond memories of Ted as a football fan and friend for many years on the terraces of Cray Wanderers FC.
Ken Collishaw - Cray Wanderers FC Goalscoring Legend.
This book recalls the playing career of Ken Collishaw who was an outstanding local footballer in the 1950s and 1960s. Ken played centre-forward for Cray Wanderers and scored 274 goals for the Club. He also played for Bromley and Tonbridge. With the help of photographs and other archive material, and interviews with many Orpington and Cray locals who greatly admired Ken’s exciting football skills, this book offers a nostalgic journey into a bygone era of goals, goals, goals!
