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Bob Flanagan has done it again, with a magisterial, extremely well-researched, and readable volume of many of those with musical connections, buried at Norwood. The depth of his knowledge is remarkable: how would anyone know that a picture of Frederick Gye, the original owner and promoter of Covent Garden Opera, is to be found in the Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News for 7th December 1878? Or again, we find from a footnote that the address where Alexander Lee died: 6 Newton Terrace, was a terrace of 8 houses, with 6 Newton Terrace becoming 14 Montford Place in 1885, has now been demolished, and its site is now covered by the Beefeater Gin Distillery.
Croydon grammar school pupils in the 50’s rather looked down on Stanley Tech. In the snobbery of the time the very idea of a technical rather than an academic education was considered to be beyond the pale. This reflected England’s attitude to engineering. Scotland and Wales held far more sensible views. The need was there, indeed it was a desperate need, but other pursuits were considered to be far more worthwhile. Something we have all lived to regret.