The formalities of our AGM were completed in under ten minutes (as intended), and then Malcolm Scott gave us a short overview of the records held at Queen’s College, Oxford which relate to Horton Kirby. The College was a major landowner in the parish until the inter war period, and they hold records such as court rolls from the eighteenth century. The evening was ended with our Cheese & Wine party, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank Doreen Jack and Paddy Eaton for all their help with the preparations.

Our next talk, on Monday 8th January, will be given by Christoph Bull (who recently featured in a BBC website story) on Gravesend- Gateway to the Thames, and Christoph’s talks are always very interesting.

Our 2018 schedule:
12th March                 Kent and East Sussex Railway – Then and Now – Doug Lindsay
14th May                     In Flanders Fields – Melanie Gibson-Barton
9th July                        1917 – Bombs on Kent – Alex Ferris
10th September        Development of South Darenth before 1900 – Malcolm Scott
12th November         AGM & Short Talk followed by Wine & Cheese

At the end of November, our founder Secretary Keith Saunderson sadly passed away after a short illness. Keith was a founder member of the society and as Secretary he booked all our speakers and wrote the newsletter (although it was typed by his wife Christine). Keith and Christine also worked on many of our early publications and other society products, and made a huge contribution to the running of the Society for many years. Terry Moyle and I represented the Society at his funeral just before Christmas.

Our September meeting was a talk by Anne Carter on the life of Queen Victoria, covering the background to Queen Victoria’s existence (the death of Princess Charlotte of Wales in childbirth meant that there was a lack of legitimate heirs), her rather unusual upbringing and what she was really like as Queen. The talk helped to give a more rounded view than is possible in a TV historical drama.

Our next meeting will be our AGM (which never lasts more than 10 minutes), followed by our colleague Malcolm Scott showing us some of the documents that Queen’s College, Oxford has in its archive about Horton Kirby (the College used to own much of the village). This will be followed by the Cheese & Wine evening.

Our 2018 schedule:
8th January        Gravesend- Gateway to the Thames – Christoph Bull
12th March        Kent and East Sussex Railway – Then and Now – Doug Lindsay
14th May            In Flanders Fields – Melanie Gibson-Barton
9th July               1917 – Bombs on Kent – Alex Ferris
10th Sept           Development of South Darenth before 1900 – Malcolm Scott
12th Nov            AGM & Short Talk followed by Wine & Cheese

A reminder to our members who were not at the last meeting, our new publication “A Walking Tour of South Darenth & Horton Kirby” is now available, and costs £1. This booklet will make an ideal stocking filler for friends and family (and it will be much cheaper to post than a calendar). Copies are available in the parish office, and other local stockists, and you will see posters around the village very soon.