Levens family members were key figures in Croydon’s bell ringing tradition, elevating the art over several generations
The Levens family and Croydon’s bells
Author: Natalie Mayhew
Originally a London girl, now living in Rochester, Kent. Fascinated by social history and passionate about equality, diversity and inclusion
Ted Mayhew (1919-1982)
Ted Mayhew (1919-1982): His wartime experiences reflect nearly five years as a POW, enduring brutal conditions, starvation, and the perilous Long March in 1945
Ted’s Wartime Journey Begins
Ted Mayhew (1919-1982): His WWII journey began in France, and he survived the breakout from Cassel before being captured
Missing: a Journey From Capture to Captivity
Ted Mayhew (1919-1982): A young soldier's journey from capture to captivity, as his family faces the uncertainty of his fate during the Blitz
Not just a pretty face
Ellen Kirby (1851-1924) whose humble origins in rural Berkshire contrasted sharply with her later success as a respected housekeeper, wife, and businesswoman
The mysterious disappearance of Arthur Earle
Arthur Earle (1896-1977) a soldier in WW1, later disappeared and started a new life in England, leaving a tale of resilience and transformation.
Shadows of Injustice: Survival and Suffering at E72
Ted Mayhew (1919–1982) a British soldier captured near Dunkirk, who, along with fellow POWs, endured unrelenting hardship at the notorious E72 work camp
Making the Best of a Bad Job: Adapting to Life as a POW
Ted Mayhew (1919-1982): During WW2, POWs faced harsh conditions, but formed communities, found purpose, and maintained hope amidst adversity
A trailblazing free-thinker
Vera Conway Gordon (1874-1955) a suffragist, novelist, community leader, advocate for women's rights, and trailblazer for social progress
A Good Friday sacrifice
Percy Henry Gordon (1885-1912) on Good Friday 1912 a young hero sacrifices his life to save a little girl from drowning in Rochester, Kent
