Records as far back as AD675 mention Sutton when Frithwald, the Governor of Surrey, gave the land to the Abbot of Chertsey.

With a taste for history, former Sutton borough commander Chas Bailey decided to conduct historical walks in Sutton town centre, writes Erica Perazza.

Sutton is a low crime borough and one of the safest boroughs in London.

Anyone should feel very safe taking a walk and discovering the secrets of Sutton town centre with the former policeman.

Bailey served the Metropolitan Police for 30 years with seven years as superintendent in charge of operations, and deputy borough commander at Sutton.

For the past two years the former copper has been plying his trade as a tour guide.

He says: “One of the captivating things about the walk is not only the mix of historical places and modern architecture, but mainly that it brings things to life that people walked past every day.

“Every day people see these buildings without realising how important they were. I like meeting and teaching people more about their surroundings and its significance.”

During his two tours he promises to give background details to areas such to the Roundshaw estate, built on the site of the former Croydon Airport, which was a fighter plane base during the Battle of Britain, and also point out curiosities such as an ancient 400-year-old Lebanon cedar tree by Quadrant House, behind Sutton station.

He will be running one tour through Sutton centre every Thursday from May to August, with a second on Sundays taking in Beddington and Hackbridge.

The walk has been awarded a medal for outstanding cultural contribution by Sutton Council.

He has also been recognised as a Blue Badge Tourist Guide, the highest Tourist Guiding qualification in the UK, receiving his qualification at Westminster Abbey.

Sutton Town Centre tours; meet at the top of Sutton High Street by the Cock and Bull pub; Thursdays, 3pm and 5.30pm, free.

Sunday Stroll; the Grange car park, London Road, Wallington; June 7, 28, August 2 and 23, 2pm and 4.30pm; free