Showing 723 results

Although born in Essex, Eleanor Macdonald (1910 - 2004) lived in Croydon for most of her life and attended Woodford School. With her brother Ian, An accomplished fencer, she founded the Croydon School of Fencing on Wellesley Road in 1928 with her brother Ian and which took her to Paris where they worked on routines for stage and screen. The School of Fencing continued until 1939 when she volunteered for war duty. Her work in intelligence resulted in her being awarded an MBE. After the war she gained qualifications in business and rose to become the director of a number of Unilever group companies.

In 1969 she founded her own consultancy business, Women in Management, which encouraged women at all levels to learn techniques of effective management and self development. Her work earned her the OBE. Her autobiography, Nothing by Chance, was published in 1987. She lived at Mapledale Avenue and attended St Andrews parish church. Among her interests was the history of the theatre in Croydon. She never married.

Woodford School was a private day-school for girls. A few boarders were also taken. Boys were taught in the preparatory classes. The school originated in 1867, established by Miss Annie Waters, who was joined shortly afterwards by her sister, Jennie Waters. It was originally located in the family home at 9 George Street, Croydon; but in 1878 the family and school moved into a new house at 8 Dingwall Road. This was named Woodford House after the village of Woodford, Wilts, where the family originated. The school subsequently expanded into the two neighbouring houses, 7 and 9 Dingwall Road. The Misses Waters retired in 1900, and Miss AHB Walford became headmistress; she was succeeded in 1927 by Miss Mary Horsley, an old girl of the school, who had taught there since 1919. The name changed in 1916 from Woodford House School to Woodford School. The school went into decline during World War 2. The Senior School closed in 1942; and, after Mary Horsley died in 1945, the surviving Junior School also closed.

The Old Girls Association (WOGA) was established in March 1902. It went into abeyance during World War 2; and was wound up after the death of Miss Horsley, and the closure of the school, in 1945. It was revived in 1951 by Phyllis Fretwell (nee Densham) and Valerie Williams, who became joint secretaries. It established strong links with Mary Horsleys sisters, Misses Margaret and Gwendolen (Dee) Horsley: Margaret, who had been Secretary of the school, was elected President of WOGA. The Association was finally wound up in 1984.

Eleanor Macdonald founded the Croydon School of Fencing to ease her family financial situation. It was based at Wellesley House on Wellesley Road from 1928 until it was closed due to the Macdonalds war service in 1939. Eleanor and Ian Macdonald built up a national and international reputation in tournaments, exhibitions, consultants (including for motion pictures) and publications on fencing.

Founded May 1916. Closed 1920.

Princess Road Boys, Girls and Infants Schools opened in mid-August 1871. A separate Junior Mixed existed 1874 (or earlier) to 1892. The school was renamed North Park in 1922. This school closed and reopened in new premises as separate Elmwood Junior Boys and Elmwood Junior Girls schools in 1930. The two schools were amalgamated to become Junior Mixed on 1 September 1971.

Elsie Susan Turrell trained as a midwife at St Marys Maternity Hospital, Croydon, and gained her State Certificate of midwifery (no. 71300) on 26 May 1927, before going into full-time practice. In June 1937 (under arrangements introduced by the Midwives Act, 1936) the County Borough of Croydon appointed her a Municipal Midwife; and then, in April 1938, a Deputy Superintendent Midwife. She was based at the Municipal Clinic in Lodge Road. In 1950, she married Dr John Black, and gave up full-time work. However, she remained on the Midwives Roll, and continued to practice on an occasional basis, initially based at Nelson Hospital, Merton; and later at Beechfield Nursing Home, Bramley Hill, Croydon.

Founded probably 1892. In 1892 Princess Road Junior School closed. This school may have accommodated infants. A separate infant school certainly existed by 1897 and it seems probable that it occupied the junior school premises from September 1892. In 1922 the school was renamed the North Park School. This school closed on 25 July 1930 and reopened in new premises as Elmwood Infant School on 8 September 1930.

Eric Arthur Blake Pritchard was born to Thomas Hobart Pritchard and his wife Minnie Alexandra. They lived at 142 Melfort Road, Thornton Heath and Eric attended Whitgift School. He was a conscientious objector in the First World War and worked for the Anglo- American Mission in France from February to November 1918.

Ernest W Wimble (1887-1979) served at various times as Hon. Secretary of South Norwood Labour Representative Committee, Editor of The Highway (journal of the Workers Educational Association), Financial Secretary of the WEA, and General Secretary of the Workers Travel Association. He stood for election to Croydon Corporation as Labour candidate in West Ward in 1920, and in Woodside Ward in 1922 and 1923: on the last occasion he was successful. His main later work was for the Workers Travel Association (a tourist organisation), and he travelled through much of Europe and Russia on its behalf. He was eventually awarded the CBE and made a Chevalier de lOrdre Leopold II of Belgium, for his work on international travel.

Fairfield (Croydon) Ltd, a self-financing charity with a board of trustees, ran Fairfield Halls from 1993-2016. It went into administration in July 2016 when the venue was closed by Croydon Council to undertake a major refurbishment.