Chris Roberts talks about the history, development of and folklore surrounding south London parks. Expect anti golf riots and stolen geese as we celebrate places to sit in, places to play in and places to spend the day in alongside contemporary (and older) threats to the concept of free open spaces in London. There may also be references to park toilet goddesses, pagan estate agents, mermaids looking for a mate and Peckham Rye’s gay cultural renaissance alongside a celebration of south London’s open spaces. The talk will switch between the real and the magically real and is based on his book South Parks: Stories from the southern commons.

Chris Roberts is a London writer and tour guide who has written books on the history of nursery rhymes, London's bridges, lost words and superstition in football. He has been conducting walking tours around London for most of this century.

The two collections of short stories (Bus travel in South London and South Parks) are part of an ongoing project telling the stories of the city over the water. The first was published in 2019 and both celebrate the people, cultures, folklore and the shared spaces of South London. The tales are a mix of magically real, folk horror, coming of age and are mostly set in the contemporary city, though some are in the past century.

South Parks is a collection of twenty short stories set in, about or around a selection of South London open spaces. Inside are talking statues, strange cults, pagan estate agents and a very wrong horse. There are foxes and a vengeful toilet goddess but also stories of love, friendship, family life and growing up.

Find out about ‘le marketing de Scooby Doo’, Peckham Rye’s gay cultural renaissance, who stole the soul of London and whether young Martisha gets it back. Meanwhile near Brockwell Park a song as old as time is sung again.

CANCELLED: South Parks: Tales from the Southern Commons with Chris Roberts