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The Rotherhithe & Bermondsey Local History Society’s aim is to encourage interest in the history of Rotherhithe, Bermondsey, Docklands and the surrounding area, including the River Thames.
Our society was established in 1987 by local historian Diana Rimel who had been running local history courses at Goldsmiths College since 1978. It was funded by the London Docklands Development Corporation (L.D.D.C.) which was set up in 1981 to regenerate the area and the disused docks, they sought to give something back to the local community following the disruption caused to the locals by the new development.  The society’s meetings were initially held in the former Dock Offices on Surrey Quays Road until 1994, when the L.D.D.C. had completed their regeneration of the area, the society relocated to Time & Talents in St Marychurch Street where it remains today.

In 1997, Diana stepped down from the society. She handed the reigns over to the local historian Stuart Rankin who was appointed as the first Chair. He was succeeded by Paul Blosse, Michael Daniels and Claire Sexton; the current Chair is Michael A Reardon. 

In 2011 we simplified our relationship with Time & Talents to become the autonomous society we are today, appointing distinguished local historian Stephen Humphrey as our first President and Sir Tommy Steele, O.B.E. as the society's Patron. We have been extremely grateful to them both for being part of this new chapter.
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