The start of our 2020 season gave us Steve Hookins performing his talk “Doing our Bit”. Steve has a fantastic collection of WW2 badges worn by civilians that showed what organisations they worked for during the war. From the wide variety of organisations, both local and national, that had their own lapel badges, cap badges, and cloth badges, badge manufacturers may well have had a very profitable time in WW2. Whilst dressing as a man who helped repair potholes in the roads after air raids (that had no badge), Steve gave us a number of impersonations using his broom as an essential prop, keeping us all amused. He had kindly brought in his badge collection to show us, and it attracted a great deal of attention after the talk.
Our next meeting will be on Monday 9th March at 8pm in the Horton Kirby Jubilee Hall, when Christoph Bull is going to give us a talk entitled “Dartford Rural Rides”.
Our 2020 schedule:
18th May Murder, Madness, Mayhem – the Belgian Royal Family – Melanie Gibson-Barton
13th July Up the Junction (Old Swanley) part 2 – Keith Whitworth
14th Sept Leeds Castle – Ann Kneif
9th Nov AGM followed b y a short talk and Cheese & Wine
The new book “Horton Kirby and South Darenth – Yesterday and Today” will be available at our meeting if you have not purchased your copy yet.
Please could you help me trace the family of Mary Ray who married my great X3 grandfather Joseph Nicholson at Horton Kirby on 12 February 1801.
I already have nearly 2,000 relatives of Joseph and of myself, and a book in draft, but this is a missing piece of the jigsaw.
It would also be interesting to trace the records of any brothers or sisters that Mary Ray had.
I would be most grateful for any assistance you could provide,
Peter Nicholson
I have only just seen your enquiry. Have you got any further or do you still need help? I have a transcription of the Horton Kirby parish registers and census returns which should be useful.