Greenwich Society Events
Upcoming Events
Coffee & Chat
Our regular monthly free event has moved: We now gather in the upstairs area of the Parkside Cafe at the National Maritime Museum with its lovely view of the Park. These sessions, on the first Wednesday of the month from 11am, have been proving popular so join us for a warm welcome and a ten-minute talk of local interest. Perhaps bring a friend and encourage them to join the Society and get to know your fellow members!
2024 Coffee & Chat dates & topics:
Wednesday 4th December
Topic: A Festive Theme: Christmas in Greenwich - some history
With Jacky Robinson
Coming Soon!
New Year Supper at Davy's Wine Vaults Greenwich
Friday 17th January 2025
The Society's New Year supper will take place in the Cooperage at Davy’s Wine Vaults at 6.30pm for 7.00pm.
We will meet for a drinks reception in the Victoria Room prior to the sit-down two course pre-ordered meal. Two glasses of wine/beer/a soft drink is included in the overall price of £35pp. Please click the link below to purchase your tickets:
You will be contacted via email for your choice of menu, see below:
Main Course:
Davy’s Kentish bangers & mash, roasted balsamic onion,
Madeira gravy
OR
Davy’s beer battered haddock , chips, mushy peas, tartare sauce
OR
Wild Mushroom Risotto (V)
Dessert:
Chocolate brownie, hot chocolate sauce, vanilla ice cream v
OR
Bakewell crumble, vegan ice cream or custard V
OR
British cheese plate
(v vegetarian / vegan)
Other 2025 Dates for your Diary
Annual Quiz
Saturday 15th February
Past events
A Walk along the Thames - Discover the Palaces of the Riverbank
Saturday 16th November from 11am
Jonathan Chandler led a walk starting at Blackfriars Station along the north bank of the Thames from Blackfriars to Westminster. We explored the history of the palaces that lined the riverside from the time of Henry VIII, identifying the evidence that remains after the creation of the Embankment in the nineteenth century and looked at the buildings, gardens and sculptures along the way.
Annual Lecture
The London Skyline: the Only Way is Up?
Sunday 3rd November
Venue: The Lecture Theatre, Greenwich University, Stockwell Street.
Our guest speaker this year was Duncan Wilson CBE, Chief Executive of Historic England. Duncan was previously Chief Executive of the Greenwich Foundation for the Old Royal Naval College and is currently a trustee there so he is well acquainted with our area.
He became a RIBA Honorary fellow in 2022 and was awarded the CBE for services to heritage in 2023.
His talk should be of interest to anyone who is concerned that new developments should enhance our environment and there will be an opportunity for questions at the end.
FREE Zoom Meeting
Tuesday 22nd October from 7pm
Topic: Social housing in Greenwich, the challenges facing Royal Greenwich Council.
With Pat Slattery, Councillor, Cabinet Member for Housing Management, Neighbourhoods and Homelessness
One of our members at a Coffee and Chat session suggested this topic and we invited Councillor Pat Slattery to talk with us on Zoom.
A Walk in Greenwich Park
Saturday 21st September
A guided 'story-walk' for adults with Rich Sylvester - from the Herb Garden along the park border.
Rich says he is inspired by the 'unauthorised heritage' of the Greenwich World Heritage Site and draws on past lives evidenced by bricks, bones, statues and memorials with a sprinkling of trees, plants and personal anecdotes.
The route was along the largest herbaceous border in London and past the Queen's Orchard to exit the park and concluded with a visit to a secret garden located close to Maze Hill Station.
Summer Picnic at Morden College
A Walk in Greenwich Park led by John Causer
Sunday 16th June, 2.30pm
John Causer led a walk in Greenwich Park, starting at the Blackheath Gate and ending with tea at the White House on Croom's Hill.
Private View of The Chocolate House Exhibition
Friday, 7th June, 9am
The Old Royal Naval College welcomed us for an exclusive early morning viewing of this exhibition in their Visitor Centre.
Tickets included a talk about Grace Tosier and her elegant establishment and, of course, a hot chocolate to start your day!
Sunday 26th May, 10.30am - 12.30pm
Yuri Inoshita and Minah Lee, two impressive Trinity Laban piano students, (both awarded scholarships by the Peter Harris Trust) gave a concert in the fine surrounds of the Peacock Room in King Charles Court in the Old Royal Naval College. Trinity Laban generously hosted the event for the Greenwich Society.
Saturday 20th April, 11am
Due to the popularity of the walk led by Ana in October 2023, we were delighted that she agreed to repeat the walk.
Quiz Night
Saturday 17th February 2024
St Alfege Church Hall
Greenwich Church Street, SE10 8NA
New Year Supper at Davy's
Friday 19th January 2024
Following our very successful supper in January 2023 we went to Davy's Wine Vaults again to celebrate the beginning of the new year and the opportunity to meet new members.
The event began at 6.30pm when guests gathered for a glass of wine or soft drink, followed by a two course meal.
Guests could choose from the following options:
Annual Lecture 2023
Sunday 5th November 11am
Lecture Theatre, National Maritime Museum
2023 marks the 150th anniversary of the Royal Naval College moving to Greenwich.
Dr Emma Hanna, Senior Lecturer in Modern British History at the University of Kent, will talk about the Greenwich Night Pageant of 1933 celebrations and the story of those who organised them.
A Talk and a Walk - by Ana Sutherland
Saturday 28th October 10am
Starting at the corner of Point Hill with Westgrove Lane, ending at Vanbrugh Castle, Ana will lead a walk of about 2 hours looking at the buildings of some notable architects.
Thursday 19th October 7pm at West Greenwich Library
Ana, a prominent local architect in Blackheath, will be talking about her forthcoming book, Modern Buildings in Blackheath and Greenwich, describing the work of some modern architects and their work in Greenwich. A glass of wine or a soft drink will be provided.
Riverside Party 2023
Riverside view Bar area
Tickets at £25 are now available for our Riverside Party on Sunday 24th September. We will be gathering at the Trafalgar Rowing Centre on Crane Street between 12.30 and 3.00pm where you can sip your drinks from the bar on the balcony if the sun shines.
West Greenwich Library Tuesday 27th June 7pm - 8.30pm.
Refreshments will be provided.
Pop along to the library to view the winning entries! Prints of the photographs will be available for purchase. The exhibition runs until 28th July.
Annual Cricket Match
This annual fixture against the Blackheath Society for the Golden Elephant trophy was rescheduled to take place in Greenwich Park on Wednesday September 6th from 5pm. And the result - we're delighted to report that Greenwich won this year!
Visit to the Fan Museum
The Fan Museum is offering members an opportunity for a private visit and tour of the current exhibition in the company of an expert guide.
3pm - 5pm on 18th July 2023
£12 per person (instead of the usual £22)
A cream tea included in the price.
Photography Competition 2023
Winners & Runners-Up
WINNER - HISTORIC GREENWICH
Karin Tearle – “Woman Bathed in Light Painted Hall”
WINNER - GREENWICH PARK
Ian Welsby – “Freshly fallen snow”
WINNER - RIVER THAMES AT GREENWICH
Liz Pratt McLean – “Mudlarkers”
WINNER - PORTFOLIO of 6 PHOTOGRAPHS
Alan Cartwright 1
“Benches, early morning”
Alan Cartwright 2
“Bandstand sparring”
Alan Cartwright 3
"Royal Observatory in February Fog"
Alan Cartwright 4
“Queens House and Canary Wharf”
Alan Cartwright 5
“Gates to Greenwich Park”
Alan Cartwright 6
“Concrete reflection”
WINNER - GREENWICH PARK UNDER 16
Siena Ulrich – “A Step Inside 1”
RUNNER UP - HISTORIC GREENWICH
Karin Tearle – “View of Chapel from Painted Hall”
RUNNER-UP - GREENWICH PARK
Karin Tearle – “Fog in Greenwich Park”
RUNNER-UP - RIVER THAMES AT GREENWICH
Michael Elliott – “Power of all kinds”
All winning images can be viewed - along with runners-up and highly commended entries - at the exhibition in West Greenwich Library, open from Tuesday 27th June until Friday 28th July 2023
FREE ENTRY
Greenwich Society members were invited to attend a reception and prize giving on the evening of Tuesday 27th June
The King's Troop of the Royal Horse Artillery
Wednesday 19th April
Professor Stephen Challacombe
Tuesday 17th January 2023 in West Greenwich Library
Professor Challacombe, one of our local members, talked about the extraordinary work of the medical students flown out from London in April 1945 to help the survivors of the camp at Belsen.
Watch a recoding of a previous presentation of this talk HERE
New Year Supper
13th January at Davy's
Photo by Trudi Lawrence
Thursday 8th December on-line via ZOOM
Mick Delap on the History of Deptford Creek
Watch the recorded talk HERE
Sunday 6th November 2022
Greenwich Society Annual Lecture
Rachel Morley on her Top Ten Churches
Watch the recorded talk HERE
Tuesday 8th March ON-line via ZOOM
Greenwich Society Lecture
The Slave Owners of Greenwich
Watch the recorded lecture HERE
New Year Supper - 20 January 2022
A highly enjoyable supper club evening at the Sail Loft
Sail Loft
Thanks to Trudi Lawrence for the slideshow
Annual Lecture - 7th November 2021
Ray Barron Woolford is from Deptford and has written a book about Kath Duncan. Kath was born in Argyllshire in 1888 and was arguably one of the first most important civil rights leaders in the UK. She laid the groundwork for the National Council of Civil Liberties (now Liberty) and was a pioneering LGBTQ activist. She lived in Deptford and stood, unsuccessfully, for the parliamentary seat of Greenwich at the 1931 general election. She was a truly amazing woman the talk by Mr Woolford was informative and entertaining as well.
Mr Woolford himself is a political activist being involved in one of Britain’s biggest food banks in Deptford and in LGBTQ rights. He is the author of a play called Liberty about Kath Duncan which was performed in London and which will soon be made into a film. Copies of his book were available and sold like 'hot cakes'.
Members' Post-lockdown Get Together
The West Greenwich Library - a popular venue and delightful building - played host to Society members on the evening of Thursday 16th September.
Tim Barnes, Acting Chairman, welcomed members - new and old - and, in his role as trustee of the Philip Harris Trust, congratulated the winners of the photography competition, whose images were on display, and presented them with their prizes
Calendars and postcards of favourite images from the competition were on sale and they are now available to buy from this website.
Annual Cricket Match
Greenwich Society v Blackheath Society
Played on 20th July 2021
Played under threatening skies
- and the result was a tie (95 runs each)!
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Friday 6 May 2022 Local Walks
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Tuesday 8 March 2022 The Slave-owners of Greenwich Watch the video of Dr Nick Draper's talk
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Sunday 7 November 2021 Annual Lecture 2021 Ray Barron Woolford tells the remarkable story of Kath Duncan
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Tuesday 3 August 2021 Members' Post-lockdown Get-together
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Thursday 1 July 2021 Bandstand Concerts in Greenwich Park Friends of Greenwich Park present an assortment of bands at the Greenwich Park bandstand to brighten up your summer.
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Tuesday 11 August 2020 Open Gardens Weekend Tim Barnes reports that the Open Gardens event over the weekend of 8/9 August raised £4,800 for the Hospice Emergency Appeal - with one garden which still to deliver its money - meaning it will, in all likelihood, bring the total up to a round £5000.
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Wednesday 24 June 2020 Officers' and Executive Committee Meetings