The “What a Palava” Interviews: Ken Thomas

"Knowledge is power and power is knowledge." — Ken Thomas

In this episode I sit down with Sociologist and CEO of the Pepys Community Hub, Ken Thomas. We talk about his dual heritage as a descendant of the Windrush generation, his experiences working in London’s night shelters, and how his lived experiences fuel his fierce advocacy today. We get into the weeds of local activism, including his fight for the residents of Scott House, and we also discuss his vital scrutiny work holding the Met Police accountable on stop-and-search practices across London.

Mapping North Deptford is an oral history and community storytelling project hoping to capture the lived experiences and local history that defines Evelyn, Deptford. This series is part of the 'What a Palava!' anniversary celebrations running this year at the Pepys Community Hub, marking the 60th anniversary of the Pepys Estate. By centering the voices of the people who live, work, and organize on and around the estate, the podcast will serve as both a celebration of the estate’s milestone anniversary and an archive of its community resilience. We want to archive these voices so that 10, 20 - 100 years from now, whoever is living and working in Evelyn can listen back and know who was here before them, what history surrounds them and what this community was up against in 2026. 

—

Ken Thomas is a sociologist, community advocate, and the CEO of the Pepys Community Hub. Driven by the ethos of community power and deeply rooted in his dual Afro-Caribbean-British heritage, Ken has spent his life navigating and dismantling social inequalities. From his early social work with St Mungo's and vulnerable populations to his own lived experiences with homelessness, Ken brings profound empathy to his current role. He is a fierce defender of local infrastructure, heavily involved in the Safe Scott House campaign and the fight for equitable development at Convoys Wharf. He also serves as the Vice Chair for the 33 London boroughs scrutinizing Met Police stop-and-search practices.

“What A Palava” Exhibition Details

Join us at Pepys Community Hub as we celebrate 60 years of the Pepys Estate. 

Opening on the 18th of July 2026 with a special event, and running until the 18th of November 2026, as a participatory exhibition including photography, artwork, music and many more contributions from current and former residents. Pepys Community Hub asks what it means to document and remember this place today. Reflecting on the past, present and future, we will examine the changes, struggles, achievements and transformations that have defined the area and its people. For more details click here.

Ken's Reading List

During the episode, Ken mentions how his background in sociology and passion for political history shaped his worldview. Here are the seminal texts and authors he recommends:

• Invitation to Sociology: A Humanistic Perspective by Peter L. Berger
• Das Kapital by Karl Marx
• Asylums: Essays on the Social Situation of Mental Patients and Other Inmates by Erving Goffman
• There Ain’t No Black in the Union Jack by Paul Gilroy
• No Logo by Naomi Klein
• The Female Eunuch by Germaine Greer
• The African Origin of Civilization: Myth or Reality by Cheikh Anta Diop
• The Works of Sigmund Freud & Carl Jung