'Shipwrecked on passage to the Falklands on 24th December'

Updated:20260822

Updated: 20260822

David is a qualified City of London guide and a genuine East Ender.

He has produced three books: The Dark Side of East London (Pen & Sword 2016) and two sets of short stories, Death and the City and Behind the Curtains.

His interest in literary London is shown in his repertoire of tours, as well as in papers he has written, particularly for the Literary London Society.

The presentation recreates one of David’s literary guided tours, going from Limehouse to Shadwell. Featuring site-specific readings, it evokes monstrous characters created by novelist Peter Ackroyd which he locates in London’s East End. In the process, this exploration sheds light on Ackroyd’s perception of London itself.

Updated: 20260822

I have lived in Sidcup for over 50 years and am married with two sons and one grandson.

My work history is all in the field of communications - covering a variety of areas. These including maintenance, design, procurement, project management and project delivery. I have a BSc in systems and technology.

I have though for a long time had an interest in history - specifically the history of London.

Using my knowledge, over the past 12 years I have devised a number of walks around different areas in London - which I have then taken various groups of friends on - not for commercial gain! Each walk lasting somewhere between 3 and 5 hours - depending on ‘hydration’ breaks.

As well as London’s history, my other main interests are in music, photography and researching mine and my wife’s family histories.

For my talk I have chosen to concentrate on one street - rather than a complete area of London. That street being the Charing Cross Road

I’m sure many of the audience will have walked along it - but do they really know it? The aim is to bring it alive for them. The talk will be in two sections.

The first section will be an overview of the area’s history and the need for, and the development of, a new road through it.

The second section will take the form of a ‘walk’ along it, supported by photographs of the past and today. The ‘walk’ will include the history of some of its many Theatres, Bookshops, Cinemas, Music Venues and Stations - plus some of the people associated with them.

Updated: 20260822

AGM & MAPSL followed by: 'The Restoration of a Floatplane and its Display in Rochester Cathedral'