Queen's Road Cemetery, Croydon, in Winter (3)

Image: © Peter Trimming Taken: 11 Jan 2010

The decorative gravestone, in the foreground, belongs to the Johnston family, of Croydon’s Gillett & Johnston bell foundry. The inscription, to the right, reads as follows: “In loving memory of Cyril Frederick Johnston O.B.E., Bellfounder. Died 30th March 1950. He used his talents to the glory of God and for the benefit of others. R.I.P. “ Between the two World Wars, Croydon’s famous bell foundry of Gillett & Johnston, was probably one of the most prolific in the world. Possibly the most famous bell, cast in this foundry, was Berlin’s “Freedom Bell”. The foundry, having been empty for many years, was demolished in the late 1990’s (some of the rubble forming the foundations to a terrace in my garden!). It was replaced by a large self-storage unit.

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