Sanderstead Literary Society’s 84th season begins next month, and promises an eclectic mix of talks from learned, expert and fascinating speakers, plus some live performances, too.
Meetings are held in the United Reformed Church Hall, 3 Sanderstead Hill, CR2 0HB. There are usually two talks each month; they start at 8pm and finish at about 9pm.
Annual membership to attend all 12 talks and events is £30 (or £15 for under-18s)
“Non-members are most welcome to attend and pay a visitor fee each time. You can also join in person on the night. We accept cash, bank cards and cheques,” according to Sue Fairchild, the programme secretary. One-off visitor fees are £5 (£2.50 for under-18s).
The programme may be subject to change, and will be notified where necessary to members, although organisers hope to update their events on the church website.
Starting on Wednesday October 7, the Sanderstead Lit’s programme looks like this:
Charity night: there will be a collection after the Andes talk for the RSPB
Oct 7: The unknown story of the unknown soldier: Roger Duckworth. How the idea of the national monument was created and delivered.
Oct 21: Crossing the Andes: John Lawrence. Marvel at the scenery, culture and wildlife of Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru. Lawrence is group leader of the East Surrey branch of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. There will be a collection for the RSPB.
Nov 4: One-man play about Noel Coward: Nigel Coleman (dramatised presentation). Noel Coward (pictured left) – actor, producer, director, composer, lyricist, painter and author – was Britain’s highest-paid entertainer in the 1930s. Come and meet the real Noel Coward.
Nov 18: Papua New Guinea: Sue Henning. Hear about Henning’s visit and about the country’s outstanding natural beauty and wildlife.
Dec 2: The ice cream Pacittis: Richard Pacitti. How a family from Italy came to Croydon as organ grinders and founded the Premier Ice Cream Company in West Croydon, one of the first ice cream companies in the area. The family’s history illustrates the lives of immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries as they become valued members of their local community.
Dec 16: Songsations female choir. Songsations is a local female group and most of the choir come from Selsdon. The songs and readings will reflect a Christmas theme, and this event will be held in the church.
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Jan 13: Stories behind the graves at All Saints Sanderstead: Phil Swallow. Based on Joy Gadsby’s book If Stones Could Speak, this takes six subjects from the book and applies fresh research to expand their stories. These range from the history of the Village Stores to a champion golfer and a veteran of the Charge of the Light Brigade.
Jan 27: Postcards of Sanderstead: Roger Packham. The chairman of the Bourne Society will be showing postcards of Sanderstead and the local area, from a bygone age.
Feb 10: Bob Newhart Rides Again: Joe Mendell. Billed as a “fun evening” and “humorous presentation”, with Mendell performing some of American comedian Newhart’s best-loved routines, including Tobacco to Civilisation, the Driving Instructor and King Kong.
Feb 24: Croydon from the palette of Evacustes A Phipson: John Hickman and Carole Roberts. Phipson’s paintings are of importance as they depict buildings from the early 20th Century, when Croydon was undergoing considerable change. Due to his particular interest in ancient architecture, many show buildings not captured in surviving photographs of the period, and while many have been lost, some remain, often hidden in our townscape.
Read more:A town centre amble that goes from the sublime to ridiculous
Mar 10: Donald Trump: Tony Harris (dramatised presentation). An “amazing and fun evening”.
Mar 24: Sanderstead Lit’s annual meeting (at 7.30pm), to be followed by Hurricane timber: Chris Richards. Richards is a talented wood carver who makes beautiful, practical and decorative items.
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