Welcome to the Website for the Bexley Branch of CAMRA
CAMRA Bexley Branch were saddened to hear of the death of our former longest serving Chairman and only Branch President, Martyn Nicholls.
For a few months in 1975, Bexley & Bromley CAMRA were one branch, but Bexley thought there was enough interest to start it's own branch.
So on a Monday evening on 21st July 1975 at The Blue Anchor pub in Bridgen (now just
The Anchor), Bexley CAMRA was born.
Martyn took the minutes and was elected on to the first committee (but not as Secretary). Jeff Tucker (now of Maidstone & Mid-Kent CAMRA)
was elected Chairman. Everyone contributed 10p so that a bank account could be opened.
Martyn, in his long association with Bexley CAMRA, managed to take on all jobs just to keep the Branch active, particularly through the
lean years in the 1990's, and had a spell as Chairman for 20 years.
Working for Bexley Council in the Planning Department, he put as many pubs as possible into Conservation Areas. This helped when pubs
were keen to promote a pseudo-Australian lager with large illuminated outdoor signs that were far larger than the other signs, but had
to settle for signs the same size as the existing ones. Working with other local Bexley groups, Toby Carvery had to re-instate the
original name of the modified public house they had taken over to 'The Crook Log'.
The local Kent guides benefited from his line drawings of pubs from the 1988 edition onwards. He supplied Kent, Gravesend and Bexley Beer
Festivals with logos to be used on glasses, t-shirts and advertising and assisted Terry Whitta with the posters for the early CAMRA
'Make May a Mild Month' campaign, which he took great pleasure in doing as he was a big fan of Mild. At each Christmas meeting,
attendees were sent a Christmas card depicting a line drawing of a Bexley Pub, his favourite being our award winning Robin Hood & Little John.
He began his working career with the old GLC, until it was abolished in 1986, then joined Bexley Council, becoming Senior Planning Officer.
Apart from drinking Real Ale, he had a huge interest in transport, having articles published in Model Railway magazines, helping in the
restoration of classic buses and being a marshal at motor rallies. A lot of his time was spent within local Bexley organisations, as being
a resident, he considered it important to contribute to all aspects of the local community.
Without Martyn's enthusiasm and determination, Bexley CAMRA would have folded. A much missed member, RIP.
