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

[cath151]

Have found  apiece about the poor woman who fell from the bus, it is not Mabel Machray

Cathy

[StevieSteve]

Newspapers on microfilm (don't know dates) are at the Museum of Croydon in the Clocktower (same building as, but separate from, the Library)

[Mart 'n' Al]

Wow, so many replies.  Thank you. 

Josey pointed out the 1939 Reg gives her dob as 1884, not 1882. William Forsyth Machray was her husband.  i thought I'd tried all the wrong spellings of Machray!  It is a rare spelling, and most of them are relatives of my friend including the first Archbishop of Canada Robert Machray and and the Archbishop's nephew, an infamous fraudster, extensively reported, John Alexander Machray, 1865-1933.

Suzard, I think you might have cracked it, the Croydon area, the first name, the mis-spelled surname.  Well done.  My friend could easily have got the year a bit wrong.  The age corresponds with the wrong dob mentioned by Josey.  If the 1939 Reg data is correct, that is.

I wish I had asked here sooner.  I admit, that I thought I had been 100% thorough, yet missed an obvious alternate spelling.

Martin

[Mart 'n' Al]

One other related question, please.

Can you read what it says next to William Machray, as Occupation on the 1939 Register?  Clip attached.

I read it as 'Organist, Chairman, Unitarian Church', but I can't make out the last word.

I assume that William must have retired if his occupation is 'organist'.  He would only have been 56 though.  He was a 'tea taster' earlier, often travelling to India.  Nice work if you can get it.

Martin

[jonw65]

Norwood News
3 November 1961
Inquest on Mrs. Machary

[sugarfizzle]

For those with a Findmypast subscription

https://search.findmypast.co.uk/bna/viewarticle?id=bl%2f0002308%2f19611103%2f130

Very sad.

Regards Margaret

[sugarfizzle]

One other related question, please.

Can you read what it says next to William Machray, as Occupation on the 1939 Register?  Clip attached.

I read it as 'Organist, Chairman, Unitarian Church', but I can't make out the last word.

I assume that William must have retired if his occupation is 'organist'.  He would only have been 56 though.  He was a 'tea taster' earlier, often travelling to India.  Nice work if you can get it.

Martin

Can't quite make it out, I would hazard a guess at Bristo[  ], the T is quite distinctive.

Any associations with Bristol?

Regards Margaret

[Dyingout]

"I read it as 'Organist, Chairman, Unitarian Church', but I can't make out the last word."

Martin
Could the Chairman be Choirman/master

[Millmoor]

I would suggest Brixton. I googled Unitarian Church Wandsworth and Brixton came up!

William