CAMRA’s Bexley Branch was saddened to hear of the death of our former longest serving chairman and only branch president, Martyn Nicholls. Back in 1975, the Bexley and Bromley boroughs were covered by a single branch but Bexley thought there was enough interest to go solo and so, on Monday 21 July 1975, at the Blue Anchor in Bridgen (now just the Anchor), Bexley CAMRA was born. Martyn took the minutes and was elected on to the first committee. Everyone contributed 10p so that a bank account could be opened!
During his long association with the branch, Martyn took on many jobs to keep the branch active, particularly through the lean years in the 1990s. He was chairman for 20 years. He also provided line drawings for Kent local guides and designed logos for the Kent, Gravesend and Bexley beer festivals. He also volunteered at a number of festivals. He was a planning officer for the Greater London Council and, after abolition, the London Borough of Bexley. Apart from real ale (mild in particular), his interests were folk music and transport. He contributed articles to model railway magazines and helped to restore old buses. He was also active in many local organisations in Bexley.
Without Martyn’s enthusiasm and determination, Bexley CAMRA would have folded. He will be missed.
Peter Trout