John Piggott played a prominent part in village activities for many years around the turn of the century. He was an intensely religious man and a devoted supporter of the Old Bexley Baptist Chapel, on Bourne Road.
In 1898, after the cricket pavilion had been destroyed by fire, he spoke out strongly at the AGM in favour or the Club replacing it with a much better building. He said that he had never known a cricket club with so many members with worse accommodation; now that the old 'shanty' had been burnt down the opportunity should be taken of providing much better facilities. (In fact. the new building, which was the first to be positioned on the site of the present pavilion was a modest affair, reflecting the limited funds available for the rebuilding. The old 'shanty' can be seen on the front cover of 1his book.)
As a young man Mr Piggott set up his own firm in the City, John Piggott Ltd., exporters to the West Coast of Africa. This company became very prosperous. He was on the London County Council for twelve years and was Chairman of the LCC Parks Committee. Among other civic duties, be formally opened the Horniman Museum. In Bexley he was on the committee which established the Victoria Homes (1897) on Bourne Road and he was largely responsible for raising the money required to build and endow the Homes.
John Piggott travelled widely and took a keen interest in foreign affairs. He was an advocate of Home Rule for Ireland.
The Piggotts’ lived at Parkhurst, a large house on Parkhill Road opposite the 'Golden Acre'. The house had a garden of several acres: the grounds included what is now Bexley Tennis Club, on Parkhurst Road.