On November 11th, 1918, the First World War came to an end. Like many communities, Camberwell changed dramatically during the war and there are many fascinating stories about how local people adapted to a new way of life.

The consequences of war literally hit home one night in October, 1917. A 660lb bomb was dropped on the junction of Calmington Road and Albany Road from a German zeppelin airship, killing 10 people and injuring a further 23.

A 101 years later, we were delighted to sing at the installation of new artwork, commemorating the event. ‘Silent Raid’ by artist Sally Hogarth is so thought provoking – it’s made up of little houses where the originals once stood, now in an empty part of Burgess Park. The houses vary in height and colour depending on the age of each victim and proximity to the blast. It reminded many of us how fragile life is and how easily it was taken away that night, without any warning, whilst people were sleeping in their own homes in Camberwell.

Whilst a century separates us from the events of World War I, we’re looking forward to performing at ‘Music and Stories for a century past’, a concert with readings and accounts about the lives of ordinary people in Camberwell during the war. It’s going to be a great way to find out more about our local history – visit the Facebook Event page for more details about this unique event.