I'm sure my friend isn't imagining this...

[Mart 'n' Al]

I have a friend whose family history I am researching. He tells me that soon after he started senior school, 1959, he was called into the headmaster's study and told that his aunt had died in a car accident. I can find no record of the accident in the British newspaper archive nor any record of her actual death. I would appreciate any assistance.

The accident almost definitely took place in Norbury, London, in 1959. The lady's name was Mabel Morris Machray, maiden name Downie.  I confirm the spelling of those two surnames.

Martin

[Gadget]

Hi  Martin

I'm on the move at the moment but I assume that you have a death reg -> cert?

Added - sorry just read that you have looked (phone with small text    )

Gadget

[josey]

Any idea of her year of birth and/or age at death? Do you have the marriage record?

ADDED: Was she Scottish [from name construction]? Can't find suitable birth of a Mabel M Downie.

[suzard]

there is this death reg -transcribed as
Mabel M Mackray
age 78
Dec qtr 1961 Croydon Surrey
5g 98

could your friend be a couple of years out ??

Suz

[louisa maud]

MacHray it is written somewhere I saw but that should make no difference at all

Did she marry William Forsyth?

Machray is quite unusual

I know you have been at this lark for a long time Martin and I do wonder if you can't find it, who can ?

Louisa Maud

[louisa maud]

I think her birth date is 1882, so I reckon suzard it is near enough

Louisa Maud

[josey]

Have you found her on 1939 register?

ADDED: Looks like suzard has found likely death. 'h' & 'k' very easy to confuse in lower case manuscript.

ADDED2: Birth found on SP free index, 1883.

[cath151]

Hi
No names unfortunately but there is a long report about accident figures around Norbury, Croydon
for the previous year 1961
Norwood News March 9th 1962
Casualties included...sadly..
" A woman who got up from her seat and walked to the platform of a bus before it reached the stop was thrown off as it went round a bend, fell on her head and was killed"

It mentions 21 fatal accidents, 9 of them adult and 8 of those persons were aged between 65 and 80.
Article available on Findmypast

Cathy

[josey]

Nothing found as M&A said, on BNA. Maybe a trawl through Croydon Advertiser [other titles may be available....] at the main library in Croydon? It may not have yet been digitised to such a comparatively recent year.

ADDED: Good find cath151  . Maybe that death certificate is worth a £6 punt & will give actual date of death for newspaper search.