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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.

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.

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.

Florence Mable Bridges was the wife of Fredric Henry Bridges of 8 Sefton Road, Croydon

The Roads Act of 1920 placed the county, county boroughs and the large burgh councils as the registration and licensing authorities for both vehicles and drivers within the area. This followed on from the Motor Car Act of 1903 ,which had first created the system of registration and licensing of motor cars and motorcycles together with the annual issuing of Driving Licenses by local authorities. Croydon County Borough continued as a licensing authrity until 1965 when responsibility was passed to the newly formed Greater London Council.

Growth in vehicle ownership, the transferring of the vehicles between owners and the increase in both the number of Licenses being applied for and the ease in which disqualified drivers were making false claims to other areas, prompted the need for change. The Vehicle and Driving Licenses Act of 1969 created a new centralised record system for registration and licensing drivers and vehicles and the Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) was subsequently formed.

Many local authority records of vehicle and drivers have been lost or destroyed. It is presumed that those of Croydon County Borough were destroyed following transfer to the GLC.

Dr Francis J.G. Keen was born in 1955 in Camberwell, London, and has lived in Croydon since the age of three.

He attended St. Marks Church of England Primary School (South Norwood), St. Anthonys Roman Catholic Junior School (Anerley), Bishop Thomas Grant Roman Catholic Secondary School (Streatham) where he was Sacristan, Librarian and Head Boy. He has studied at the Universities of Southampton (Theology), Toulouse (France) (English Literature) and Canterbury (English for Secondary School Teaching). His main area of research has been in the religious poetry of suffering in English poets.

His professional life has included working as an Auxiliary Male Nurse at Mayday Hospital, Croydon. He has worked for British Telecoms International as a Satellite Non-Switched Digital Transit Level 1 Manager as well as working as a Lecturer at the Social Sciences, University of Toulouse. He lectured in English for Special Purposes in Law, Economics, Political Sciences, Social and Economic Administration, University of the Third Age and Womens University Studies. He was a translator and interpreter in French and English. He was awarded Toulouse Universitys medal for service in 1989. He obtained three straight firsts at Toulouse University (Literature Faculty) and qualified as a teacher in the UK in 1992. He taught English, Drama and French at Selsdon High School from 1990 to 1999 where he was also a Head of Year. For the first two years at Selsdon, he was training as a Licenced Teacher on a point 5 release and week-end programme in association with the Education Faculty of Christ Church College, Canterbury University. He was the Local Chairman of the Professional Association of Teachers (Croydon Branch) and has stayed a member of this organisation. He was a Governor at Redgates Special School from 1983 to 1987. He presently works as an a part-time administrator for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark and is the main carer for his disabled son, Sebastian.

He married Anne-Marie, a French citizen, in 1978. His hobbies include cooking, plane spotting and, inevitably, reading - especially biographies. He is a sci-fi fan and enjoys collecting action and sci-fi videos. In 1983 he became the Chair of the Friends and Trustees of Orchard Hill College of Further Education for People with Profound, Severe, Multiple and Complex Learning Difficulties which his son currently attends.

Frederick Alfred (Alf) Dunn lived at 5 Downsview Gardens, Upper Norwood with his wife Rose Alice Dunn. They had two sons, Fred and Reg, and a dog (?), Chum. In November 1939, Alf Dunn became a gunner in the Royal Artillery, based at the North Raglan Barracks, Devonport, Devon: he was training until 13 December 1939, and then joined B Battery. He remained in Devonport until 2 April 1940, when his unit left for France.

Alfs army number was 1516659. His unit was described as No.2 Battery 23rd M H Training Regiment, Royal Artillery until 13 December 1939; and thereafter No.9 B Battery 23rd M H Regiment Royal Artillery.

At the beginning of the correspondence, Fred and Reg were away from home (evacuated?). Reg came home in December, but Fred was ill, went into hospital in Brighton, and did not return home until March 1940.

Records are presumed to be a study aid; Mr Wright worked for Croydon County Borough.

Contemporary directories list George Richardson, builder and undertaker, at Southbridge Place 1874-1888.

Harry Guy Simmons (1909-1964) worked as a service mechanic for Croydon Corporation Electricity Department. During World War II he served in No. 9 platoon, G Company, of the 32nd County of London Battalion of the Home Guard, which was made up of Electricity Department staff. He was initially a volunteer, but was promoted to Lance Corporal in about August 1942.

Harold Frederick Bing (of Rostherne, Alton road, Waddon) entered Croydon British Boys School, Tamworth Road, in 1905. He started at Standard I, and progressed through to Standard V, before entering secondary school by scholarship in 1910. He therefore missed out on Standards VI and VII.

Henry Grantham was employed as a Gamekeeper on the Ballards Estate, owned by Charles Hermann Goschen. He was born in 1861 in Ewhurst, Surrey

Henry Horace Pereira (1845 - 1926) was vicar and rural dean of Croydon from 1895 to 1904. On 24th of January 1904 he became the first bishop of Croydon and his consecration took place at Westminster Abbey. Before obtaining a position at Croydon, Pereira had also been a rector to Chilbolton in Hampshire and rural dean of Stockbridge. Pereira was a devoted supporter to the Church of Englands Temperance Society. His work in this society affected the public of Croydon. He resigned as Bishop on 6 May 1924. His commitment to the Temperance Society remained strong. Pereira was happily married to Adela de Courcy Stretton who was the eldest daughter of Col. and the Hon. Mrs Stretton. They had two children, the daughter Miss Violet Inez Pereira married a local vicar Rev. A. Reeve. Pereira died on the 1 January 1926 aged 80.