The Charlton Society usually holds talks on matters of local interest, normally on the third Saturday of every month, in St. Luke’s Church from 2.30pm. The talks start with a local update and are followed by refreshments – please join us!

Our next talk is on Saturday 19 September. We’re delighted to welcome Dr John Price who will present: ‘The everyday heroes of Postman’s Park’.

The Watts Memorial in Postman’s Park, London, contains 54 memorial tablets commemorating individuals who lost their own life while attempting to save the life of another. Most cases date from the Victorian or Edwardian periods. It is a unique and enduring monument to the everyday heroism of otherwise ordinary people.

This month’s talk will briefly outline the history of the memorial and explore the lives and deaths of some of the Londoners who feature on it. Dr John Price is an award-winning Public and Community Historian who takes a ‘People’s History’ approach to modern and contemporary history.

This year’s programme:

– 17 January: Have your say on the RGB draft local plan

– 21 February 2026: Dirt and Decoration – How beauty rose out of London’s sewers, with Rob Harris of the Crossness Trust

– 21 March: Parks, People and Pleasure by Candy Blackham

– 18 April 2026: A Short History of Lesnes Abbey with Chris Hawkins

– 16 May 2026: Flats for Poor families? London County Council’s performamce 1890-1930 with Dr. Michael Passmore

– 20 June 2026: How Charlton Helped Connect the World with Alan Burkitt-Gray

– 18 July 2026: Charlton in the 18th. Century – a rediscovered map and what we can learn with Barbara Holland

– 19 September 2026: The everyday heroes of Postman’s Park with Dr. John Price

– 24 October 2026: Charlton Society AGM. Travels with my Turtle: Slow travel challenges from SE7 with Jo Kibble

– 21 November 2026: When Sunday Comes: Women, Football and SE7 with Heather Alderson

– 12 December 2026: Festive special: From Greenwich to the Stars: The Royal Observatory, Flamsteed Astronomy Society and the December Night Sky

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Suggestions for future speakers and subject matter are always welcomed, let us know!