1945 – December 20th – Rowland Hazard dies (Rowland carried the Oxford Group message to Ebby) Rowland’s story is a major turning point for A.A. In essence, he contributed to the Second Step. Although never joining A.A. he stayed sober as a member of The Oxford Group.
1946 – Bobbie Burger sends Dorothy H-E the London A.A contact the first official 12 step call. Chris L-B of Hove.
1946 – Dorothy moves back to New York – ‘Canadian’ Bob who got sober in 1945 in New York, became the main contact in London.
1946 – November the first meeting in Ireland happened. Conor F had gotten sober in Philadelphia and travelled back to Dublin to begin the fellowship there. The picture below shows Conor F (wth glasses) and Sackville who helped grow the fellowship in Ireland.
1947 – Grace O made contact with Canadian Bob about setting up a meeting.
31st March 1947 is when the first recorded meeting in the UK. room 202 at The Dorchester Hotel, London – was held by Grace O along with Canadian Bob, Chris B from Hendon (who may be the first person this country to be sober the A.A way), Pat G from California, Tony F, an Irish Airman from Finchley, Sergeant Vernon W, an American Serviceman who had found A.A. in Bermuda, Ward (Flash) W, and Norman R-W who was still drinking were in attendance. Pic of Grace O:-
1947 – The second Meeting was at the Dominion Theatre café a week later at this meeting ‘Canadian’ Bob was voted in a secretary of First London…by the other two in attendance. The group was in need of a regular venue after touring different cafes, bars etc, it was agreed with the acceptance of Bob’s wife that they will hold a regular one at ‘Canadian’ Bob’s home in Mortlake, Kew.
The home of ‘Canadian’ Bob where meetings were held. Mortlake, Kew.
1947 June – ‘Canadian’ Bob , Tony F, Norman and Chris B created an advertisement that appeared in the Financial Times.
1947 – The A.A. preamble was created by The Grapevine magazine and approved by Bill W. Below is a snippet regarding its creation.
In the Grapevine at the end of 1947, Ward W tells his story of being at the first recorded AA meeting in London.
1948 – January of that year, another member wrote to the Grapevine regarding the first meeting held in GB. Sgt Vernon – have a butchers
1948 – Brothers Bill and Roland H set up the first A.A telephone helpline from their small office in the London Fruit Exchange with the number BIS 4980. Pre-dating the Samaritans by five years, it is possible that it was the first crisis helpline of its kind in the United Kingdom.
1948 – Lottie became first female member of Alcoholics Anonymous in great Britain. Her role as secretary help grow the fellowship in this country. Meeting were also held at her home when ‘Canadian’ Bob went away for work.
1948 – First London – 11 Chandos Street, the Medical Society of London. Meeting on Thursday at 7:30pm. This meeting is still ongoing and has changed venues numerous times.
1948 – August – First meetings began in Scotland by Sir Philip D. Below is a pic of Sir Phil with Bill W on Bill W’s visit to the U.K and Ireland. Sit Philip had contacted First London and Lottie T was able provide assistance in the fellowship beginning.
1949 – March First Recorded meeting in Liverpool at the Stork Hotel. Members in attendance, Owen T (First member to be sober December 1948) also Jim B who was the second to get sober in Liverpool 14th January 1949, Also there were Alan and Winnie, the first to get sober in the North West of England the founders of the ‘Bolton Group’.
1950 – Liverpool and Manchester
1950 – The U.K Where to Find
1950 – Dr Bob – Co-Founder of A.A. died on 16th November.
Dr Bob’s last words:-
1950 – Ilford/Romford began in a member’s home. Learn more – click here
1950 – Bill W and Lois visited the U.K and Ireland. See below their itinerary.
1950 – Sackville meeting Bill and Lois on their visit to Ireland.
1950 – Canadian Bob celebrated 5 years in recovery. A.A GB put it in the newsletter.
1951 – First Meeting held in Wales.
1951 – A.A. leased 11 Redcliffe Gardens, it was home of the Central Service Office. In 1970 it became the General Service Office under the management of the General Service Board. GSO relocated to York in 1986. The London Regional Telephone office stayed at Redcliffe Gardens until January 1999, when it moved to Cynthia Street N1.
1953 – April of this year Bill W and Tom Powers published the Twelve and Twelve. Originally the Traditions were first published in the April 1946 AA Grapevine under the title “Twelve Points to Assure Our Future.”
1954 – Hank P – New York’s Number 2 and contributor to the big book passed away.
1954, September 17, Bill D, also known as Alcoholic number 3, died in Akron, Ohio.
1954 – A travelling American called Jim who would report back to Bill W on the ‘Health’ of meetings this side of the pond.
1954 – an article written about A.A. by Beverly Baxter appeared in the Daily Express. The members believed it will create a flashpoint like the Jack Alexander article……..and no one called.
1954 – First Blue Bonnets Alcoholics Anonymous convention.
1955 – 15th December, Grace O who held the first U.K. meeting in her Dorchester Hotel, passed away at 55 years old.
1955 – General Service Office was created – telephone line transferred to Redcliffe Gardens from Bill and Ronald H’s office. Bill H and Alan B were instrumental at creating this.
1956 – London Where to Find.
1956 – Bill D the Secretary of the London office passed way from along illness. Took on the mantle when he arrived in A.A in 1952 and his experience helped nurture newcomers.
1956 – First A.A. convention in England and Wales.
1958 – Not East London – The first English Prison Group began in Wakefield Prison.
1958 – Limehouse group opened at St Anne’s Three Colts Street, E14, possibly set up by Geoff and ‘Jewish’ Mike.
1959 – London Where to Find.
1959 – Ilford/Romford group moved to premises in Ilford.
1961 – Ilford meeting opened at The Ilford Pioneer, Super Market, Ilford Lane.
1962 – The Publication of the ‘Twelve concepts for world Service’ Written by Bill W
1962 – 1963 Limehouse Group moved to East London Tabernacle – Mile End.
1965 – Ilford moved to new premises – see advertisement:-
1965 – Toynbee Hall – Opened and became the longest-running meeting in East London until its doors closed. Click on the link to see more.
1966 – 11h Annual England and Wales Convention at Butlins in Clacton.
1966 – The man who carried the message to Bill W, Ebby Thacher passed away on 21st March. Below is a picture of Ebby and Bill.
1969 – Meeting opened at St. Clements Hospital, Bow Road.
1971 – A.A. Co-Founder Bill W passed away.
1972 –Date East Ham Monday evening meeting began and is still going today. Address below.
1972 – members of the Toynbee Hall group arranged the 25th anniversary of Alcoholics Anonymous in the U.K.
1973 – Came to Believe was published.
1974/76 – The London intergroup became too large, splitting into regions.
East London Intergroup’s First Chair was ‘Young’ Peter – read his story here
London North East
London South
London West
London South East
London Central
1974 – Meeting at Hackney Hospital Opened – moved to Homerton Hospital. Closed 2017
1975 – Living Sober was written by A.A member Barry L.
1975 – Canning Town Sunday 11am meeting began 16/12/1975- not reopened since Lockdown.
1975 December 5th – Ilford / Romford celebrating their 25th Anniversary with a buffet.
1976 – Intergroup at Fellowship Hall – agreed to call themselves ELIG.
1978 – The Living Sober was published in Great Britain. The price of the book was 99p.
1978 – June, Bill H the alcoholic greengrocer, passed away. Bill H lent his office to be the first AA helpline, also was part of the general service board on its creation in 1957.
1979 – St Clements meeting celebrating their tenth anniversary – Theme ‘Family Illness’
1979 – December 5th – Henrietta Seiberling passed away. The lady who Introduced Dr Bob to Bill W.
1980 – Canning Town Sunday Evening meeting began 26/10/80 – not reopened since lockdown.
1980 – Hackney Hospital 6th anniversary – Theme ‘Gratitude’
1981 – Lottie T – the first female member of Alcoholics Anonymous in Great Britain, passed away in Spain.
1981 – Canning Town Saturday evening meeting started 21/2/1981 – Not reopened since Lockdown.
1982 – ‘Canadian’ Bob, the member who helped grow A.A. in this country passed away in Malta. He was called the father of A.A in Great Britain.
1983 – Mile End hospital Sunday, 3pm meeting opened. This is still going (was moved from German Hospital in Hackney Not sure when it started there)
1984 – First Cockney Convention at Langdon Park Community Centre – Set up by ‘Baker’ Fred.
1984 – 2020 Forest Gate Saturday Lunchtime meeting.
1984 – Whipps Cross Friday night meeting was set up by Denis, Dot, and Scottish Tom.
1984 -Canning Town Wednesday began 11/04/1984 at Newham General, Moved to Mayflower centre, then to Anchor House – Not Reopened since Lockdown.
1984 – East London held the London Gay Groups 5th Annual Mini convention.
1985 – 2nd Cockney convention – theme, I am responsible – celebrating 50 years of A.A. held at Poplar Civic Theatre, Fairfield Road. 14:00 – 23:00 Admission for dance and meal £3.00 Contacts – Mike, Joan, Dolly and Bill.
1985 – Step and Tradition meeting in Hackney, Lauriston Road – ongoing at new premises. Started by Julie, Joe, Steve and Mick.
1986 – The General Service office closed its doors at Redcliffe Gardens after 21 years but stayed at the Telephone office until 1999 where it moved to Jacobs House.
1986 – 5th November, Barkingside Wednesday Recovery group – ongoing
1986 – 7th November, Barkingside Friday Recovery Group – Ongoing
1987 – A letter to A.A from the Secretary of State congratulating on 40 years of AA in Great Britain.
1987 – Programme for the 40th Anniversary meeting on March 31st.
1988 – 5th October – At 97 years old, Lois Wilson passed away.
1988 – East London Convention held at East Ham Town Hall, Theme, ‘We Are Responsible’.
1988 – Barkingside Monday Recovery Group – ongoing
1988 – Forest Gate Sunday 4pm. – Closed 2007.
1989 – South Woodford, Saturday evening meeting – ongoing
1989 – 28th April – Sunday Forest Gate dinner and gala.
1989 – East London Convention – 9th September – advertisement below.
1990 – The Daily Reflections was published – Click here for the days reading.
1990 – East London Intergroup split in to two – Inner and Outer.
1991 – The Leytonstone Monday evening meeting began at The United Free Church.
1991 – Seven Kings Thursday evening meeting began. 11/10/91 – by Micky O and Diana
1992 – Toynbee Hall – 27th anniversary, the theme ‘The Joys of Living’.
1994 – East London’s Cockney Convention – September 18th.
1996 – Stratford Monday Lunchtime meeting began at Bryant Street, E15.
1996 – Walthamstow Sunday Evening Meeting began at St Andrews Church – Lea Bridge Road – Moved in 1997.
1996 – September 14th – Cockney Convention.
1997 – Walthamstow Sunday Evening Meeting found new premises at Beulah Road – still going.
1998 – 12th September – Cockney Convention at Kingsley Hall.
1999 – London Telephone office moved from Redcliffe Gardens to its new home of Jacobs House, Cynthia Street, N1.
1999 – 2019 Beginning of the Millennium’s Meetings. Click Here to read more memories of Millennium meetings.
2001 Canary Wharf Tuesday 5:30pm meeting, began – ongoing.
2002 – February 16th Out East London Intergroup one-day Mini Convention:-
2002 – May – Dr Max Glatt was a prominent expert in the treatment of alcoholism and addiction in the United Kingdom at the Warlingham Park Hospital. He was a great A.A. friend who held talks on alcoholism.
2002 – September – East London Intergroup Cockney Convention:-
2005 Bethnal Green Step and Tradition, Wednesday evening meeting opened.
2005 – Chingford Child Friendly 4pm Meeting opened.
2005 – Stratford Arcade Step and Tradition opened. Signed Big Book by all who attended.
2006 – Co-founder of Toynbee Hall A.A. meeting, ‘Dartmoor’ Bill passed away. Sober 53 years. Want to read a bit more…then click here.
2006 – Canning Town Thursday 7pm began 23/11/06 by Zita, Mark, Malcolm. Not reopened since the Lockdown.
2007 -St. Clements meeting closed – read here about the St Clements Plaque.
2010 – Skylines Newcomers meeting opened – Closed 2017.
2012 – Olympics came to Stratford and East London Intergroup opened the doors of every day meetings between 27th July 2012 to Sunday 12th August. Held at Bryant Street.
2014 – ‘Plaistow’ Bill H – a stalwart of East London A.A. passed away. Bill was also the oldest person at 93 years old to do a tandem skydive in South Africa. Bill was also in his 50th year sober.
2014 – The AA London office helpline left Cynthia street to new home of Lafone street.
2016 – Ilford meeting closed its doors for the final time.
2017 – January 6th – Wanstead Big Book Study began at Wanstead Baptist Church, Wellington Road (Committee – Maria, Barry, Lauri, Chris, Liam and Mark)
2017 – Cockney Convention at Stratford Town Hall – Theme ‘We Are not a Glum Lot’.
2018 – Cockney Convention – Last one at Stratford Town Hall.
2019 – Cockney Convention – New Venue – Bishopsgate Institute.
2019 – Leyton Newcomers meeting opened at Leyton Trinity Methodist Church, 280 High Rd (Committee – Luke, Billy, Darragh and Iain)
2020 – Covid Lockdown – all meetings moved online.
2022 – Wanstead Keystone to Freedom began at Christ Church Wanstead, Wanstead Place – Founder of meeting (Brooke).
2022 – Last East London intergroup meeting held at Forest Gate, Dunning Hall.
2023 – New Location for East London Intergroup, meetings. Salvation Army, Kerbey Street, Poplar.
2023 – East London Intergroup held its first Archive Mini Convention – over 220 years of continued sobriety on the top table – have a listen HERE
2023 – The old Millennium Meetings have re-started at a new venue in a new area. There is a safe place for members and their families to attend during New Year’s Eve. From 11 am on 31st December all the way to 6pm on New Year’s Day there will be a nice cuppa tea, a slice of toast and contact meetings.
The venue – is Gidea Park Methodist Church – The name is Step Around the Clock.
2024 – Manchester Road Meeting (isle of dogs) – Christ Church reopened.
2024 – London Office and helpline moved to new premises in Bermondey
MORE WILL BE REVEALED.
East London Archives of Alcoholics Anonymous. 