Our Voice (September 2025)
Croydon Vision Newsletter
“A New Chapter”
Cover Image – We were hosted by the brilliant and kind Woldingham Wives (July 2025).
“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.”
(Francis Scott Fitzgerald, Writer, 1896-1940).
As autumn approaches, we look forward to emerging community events. A new month inspires us to reflect upon changing seasons and fresh life chapters sparkled with creativity, courage, learning and growth.
| NB. We have carefully selected a small number of images mainly placed in our Appendix (pages 31-36). These images include logos and photographs, and are described in the audio version of this Newsletter. |
Croydon Vision Newsletter
| Page 2 | Contents page |
| Pages 3-4 | Message from Nicola Newman, new CEO |
| Page 5 | Tropical Twist Community Barbeque (BBQ) |
| Page 6 | From Birmingham with love featuring Mohamed Mahdi |
| Page 7 | A turning point for Ama and Croydon College volunteers |
| Pages 8-9 | Tech Buddies provide support and share knowledge |
| Pages 10-11 | Our Children and Young People are shaping the future |
| Pages 12-14 | Working Age Group’s commitment to lifelong learning |
| Page 15 | The important role of unpaid carers in our community |
| Pages 16-19 | Healthy living through yoga, massage, exercise and diet |
| Pages 20-29 | Creativity in action: writing workshops, new recipes and our own murder mystery story! |
| Page 30 | Your input matters: welcoming feedback and next steps |
| Pages 31-36 | Appendix with photos to bring our story to life |
Message from Nicola Newman (new CEO)
Honoured to shape a new chapter at Croydon Vision
“Dear Members,
As I reflect on my first eight months as CEO, I want to thank you for the warm welcome and patience you’ve shown me. When I interviewed for the role I shared that I am a people-first leader, and I mean that in every sense. I get my energy from people, and I believe there is incredible power in creativity and exploring ideas together. I also made it clear that I can only do this job if I’m able to bring an element of fun! You’ve embraced that approach, and I’m so grateful for how open and curious you’ve been in getting to know me.
As a fellow Croydon resident, I care deeply about our town, and stepping into the vibrancy of the Croydon Vision community reminds me daily of the incredible spirit that lives here.
Leadership transitions take time, and while the road hasn’t been without its bumps, I’m truly enjoying the journey. These are challenging times for charities, but together we’ve moved forward with courage, purpose, and a constant eye on new opportunities for growth.
I’m proud that our tech training and advocacy services are now free of charge, and that we’ve made strategic financial decisions to protect our future. While funding delays remain a hurdle, we’re actively pursuing new grants and remain hopeful.
Listening has been a priority, both to our team and to you. “Nicola’s Note” in the bulletin and our new feedback tracker are helping us stay connected and responsive. Internally, we’ve launched the Developing Leaders pathway and hosted team days focused on communication, transparency, and trust.
A recent highlight for me was our summer BBQ, it was a true celebration of community. It reflected the progress we’ve made in responding to feedback, team dynamics and communication, and it was heartening to see so many members, friends, and colleagues from the sight loss community come together in support and joy.
I’d also like to thank our incredible staff team. Your support, openness, and willingness to explore new ways of working have made this transition not only smooth but inspiring. Your creativity and commitment are the heartbeat of Croydon Vision.
Looking ahead, we’re committed to tackling health inequalities, expanding access, and strengthening partnerships across South West London. Volunteers remain at the heart of our mission, and together, we’ll continue to build a community that’s inclusive, empowering, and visionary.
Above all, please remember: we are here for you. Croydon Vision is your community, your support, and your space to thrive. I am so proud to be part of it. Thank you!” (Nicola Newman, CEO).
‘Tropical Twist’ Community BBQ
As Nicola alluded to earlier, the ‘Tropical Twist’ BBQ on Friday 18 July 2025 was a vibrant celebration of our community. Thank you to our volunteers and the team for their support in making it happen.
This special event was filled with sunshine, laughter, and communal spirit. As with all twists and turns, this year we tried a new approach unleashing the power of tropical energy with guests dressed in colourful holiday outfits, including member Anna Clements who appeared head-to-toe in island finery!
The BBQ featured a feast of delicious food and lively Mauritian Sega dancing bringing energy and rhythm to the afternoon. A highlight of the day was a special visit from Croydon’s Civic Mayor, Richard Chatterjee, who joined in the festivities and met with members of the community. The excitement peaked with a prize-packed raffle, adding a dash of anticipation and joy to an already unforgettable summer day.
This event highlights the positive impact of community-building on physical health and emotional wellbeing while strengthening collaboration, personal independence and resilience. Furthermore, on this special day we had the chance to leverage the benefit of intergenerational dialogue across children and young adults through to working age citizens and older members. Inspired by the opportunity for personal growth and skills-development (including event and project management) some attendees expressed their interest in volunteering at future Croydon Vision events.
The summer BBQ continues to be a highlight in the Croydon Vision calendar, and without wishing the time away, we are already looking forward to next year’s!
From Birmingham with love: A new chapter with old friends at heart
We continue to see inspiring examples of new beginnings across our community. One of our beloved volunteers, Mohamed Mahdi, has embraced his move to UK’s second city with courage, optimism and kindness. Of course, we all deeply miss Mohamed’s physical presence but are grateful for having him in our lives and thank him for his remote support since he moved in early May 2025. Mohamed shares his words with us:
“To all my friends at Croydon Vision,
I wanted to send a message to say how much I miss you all. I often think about the time we spent together and even miss the simple things like peeling potatoes and serving food.
I especially remember what a wonderful time I had with you all at the BBQ party in July this year, and I am looking forward to visiting again soon.
I’m doing really well here in Birmingham, enjoying volunteering at Brandwood Centre, helping with administrative work. Also, I enjoy cooking and gathering with my friends. I hope you all are doing well, and see you soon.”
Mohamed’s energy, drive, tenacity and hard work continue to make us better. In recent weeks, we have treasured his assistance at the BBQ and his helpful peer-support offered to various members.
Thank you for your contribution, Mohamed! Please come to see us again soon.
A turning point for Ama and many Croydon College volunteers
We are excited to celebrate a new chapter for Nana Ama Brago (colloquially known as Ama), a superb Croydon College student who has secured great results for her NCFE CACHE Level 2 Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care. We look forward to welcoming Ama again when she embarks upon her Level 3 course in September 2025.
Ama combines her love for health, social care and volunteering with creative writing. Earlier this year, Fight or Flight published one of her short stories, “Breaking the Silence”, a courageous piece to raise awareness of harassment. Ama’s passion to speak up and change the narrative of this important societal challenge is a force of hope and optimism for the future.
Ama shares a message with our Croydon Vision community:
“I miss you and can’t wait to see you”.
We feel exactly the same about you, Ama. We thank you and look forward to seeing you again soon.
Ama is one of many talented Croydon College work experience students who volunteer at Croydon Vision as part of their Health and Social Care courses. We will be thrilled to meet old and new students as the academic year re-starts in September so watch this space!
Our Tech Buddies support members and disseminate knowledge with compassion
It has been a very exciting year for Daniel Ojobo, our IT and Digital Transformation Officer. In addition to his regular responsibilities supporting members with technical queries, Daniel has been busy putting together a new team of Tech Buddies as he describes below:
“Over the past few months, the demand for tech support at Croydon Vision has increased. I’ve always enjoyed helping our members learn new skills and feel more confident with their devices. There’s nothing more satisfying than seeing someone smile when they’re able to make a phone call or listen to their text messages.
Earlier this year, when we decided to make most of our tech services free, word spread quickly and my calendar started to fill up.
It was clear I couldn’t do it all alone. I wanted everyone to get the time, patience, and support they needed. That’s when the idea for Tech Buddies came along with the help of Ines, and soon after, we welcomed Dr Paul Harper, Joshua Kpebi and Peter Temple to the team.
Dr Paul has spent most of his life surrounded by technology and brings a huge amount of experience to his role. He says:
“For the last 50 years, I have been working around technology. At school, I used one of the first PC computers to learn Computer Languages and how IT systems worked. Working in science, I embraced tech, seeing and owning some of the early desktop and laptop computers, then the early smartphones of the 2000s. Technology has been around me for a long time, and I’ve picked up many skills over the years. Now, as a volunteer at CV, I want to help others with basic tech issues, whether it’s a phone, laptop, or gadget. However, I’m still learning all the time, especially about accessibility functions.”
Joshua’s journey is a little different but just as inspiring. He says:
“Ever since secondary school I grew an urge to learn more about different types of technology. While currently taking Computing in College, I’ve learnt how technology can be used in different ways. One day I came to Croydon Vision for an appointment, and I saw how the team here helped different people in different ways. I was inspired to use the computing skills I’m learning to help people in my own way, using what I love.”
Peter has spent his entire professional career in IT and says:
“I have always been passionate about sharing the knowledge that I have gained. On a personal level, it was liberating for me as a visually impaired individual to discover all the accessible technology available. To be able to pass that on and help others in my role as a Tech Buddy is really enjoyable.”
Our Tech Buddies are delivering great work by providing unique insights and showing people how to use accessibility features. The difference they’ve made has been incredible. Not only have they helped me keep up with the demand for tech, but they’ve also started to have their own sessions without me present. On behalf of everyone at Croydon Vision, I want to say a huge thank you to Dr Paul, Peter, and Joshua.
Your kindness, courage, and willingness to help is very much appreciated.” (Daniel Ojobo, IT and Digital Transformation Officer).
Children and Young People shaping the future through technology and science
Thank you to Mohamed, Ama and our Tech Buddies for their kind words. We are privileged to be part of their growth and development, and continue to learn with them as they move through their new journeys of discovery by trying and testing new things.
We would like to revisit a quote that we shared with our readers in the January 2021 edition of our Newsletter which still remains relevant:
“If we teach today as we taught yesterday, we rob our children of tomorrow.” (John Dewey, American Philosopher and Educator, 1859-1952)
At Croydon Vision, we continue our relentless commitment to learning underpinned by a growth mindset, compassion and innovation. We embrace challenges, love learning from feedback and setbacks, and see the success of others as a source of inspiration and coaching. We now wish to take a moment to reflect about the potential of our younger members and future leaders.
We are passionate about giving children and young people (CYP) living with sight loss the chance to explore cutting-edge technology in fun, hands-on ways. Our recent PC Teardown and Rebuild Workshop was a perfect example — members became “digital detectives”, taking apart a real computer, identifying every component, and then rebuilding it step-by-step.
Along the way, they learned how hardware and software work together, discovered the importance of recycling old tech, and explored how science and engineering can help create a greener future. Sessions like these aren’t just about technology — they build curiosity, teamwork, problem-solving skills, and confidence.
By integrating AI, science and the latest trends into our CYP programme, we’re proud to offer experiences that truly set us apart from other charities, inspiring tomorrow’s innovators in an inclusive and supportive environment.
Our CYP love the experience! They ask many questions and tell us that they are “enjoying these sessions”, “love playing and learning”, and that coming to Croydon Vision is “cool”, “exciting” and “fun”.
Thank you to our future leaders for embracing new challenges with curiosity, a growth mindset and joy!
As we enter September, our younger members are excited to return to Croydon Vision after school typically for workshops taking place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 4pm to 5pm. Also, we are planning events and excursions for October half-term week and Christmas so stay tuned!
Please contact Ayeza Faisal, our Children and Young People Officer, if you would like to introduce new younger members to our vibrant community.
Ayeza would love to hear from you so don’t be shy! She can be reached at Ayeza.Faisal@croydonvision.org.uk and via Reception on 0208 688 24 86.
WAG’s Commitment to Lifelong Learning
Our Working Age Group (WAG) continues its quest to become a “better version of themselves” by approaching every single day as a new beginning, a chance to grow and build a path to readiness through action.
In this context, we would like to pay tribute to Patrick Barrett whose story of resilience and hard work is shared by Clare Leitao, one of our Braille tutors:
“I learned Braille when I first came to England, and I am now a Lay Reader at St. Chad’s Parish Church. A year ago, Ancella George was looking for a Braille tutor. In the absence of anyone coming forward, I grasped the opportunity to share my knowledge and voluntarily offered Grade 1 Braille training sessions at Croydon Vision last autumn which were attended by many.
Grade 1 Braille is simple and useful for everyday living; for example, identifying prescribed medication, reading, signage, using lifts independently, labelling canned produce and other products.
Grade 2 Braille is complex and uses abbreviations and contractions. It is useful for experienced and fluent readers to enable faster reading and writing as Grade 2 takes up less space on paper.
This year I continued with the training on Friday ably assisted by my fellow tutors namely Anna Smith and Raymond Leitao. Additionally, Francis Cole helpfully does the Braille transcription and Lourdes Leitao ensures smooth running and keeps us all organised. As a matter of course, I regularly keep Ancella informed of each student’s progress.
When I started the training this year, I only intended to teach Grade 1 Braille. But one of the students surpassed my expectations and that person is Patrick Barrett who undertakes a two-hour journey to travel to Croydon Vision.
To begin with, Patrick was very quiet, and when I checked if he needed any help, he assured me he was absorbing everything that was being taught. He took me by surprise when I asked him to read a piece of text in Braille and he demonstrated his ability to easily identify letters and words. He was given a book to practice at home. He is now able to read Grade 1 Braille at a progressive pace. He always comes to the sessions armed with lots of thoughtful questions.
He was doubtful about undertaking Grade 2 Braille and thought it was not for him. And after convincing him that he was capable of it, he took up the challenge with his current tutor, Raymond, and is making good progress. He devotes a lot of his personal time in learning the Braille code and wants as many books to help him to learn as there are to hand. Some time ago, Patrick told me he was applying the same ethic to learning as he did to work.
At this point, I should say, that it is easy to learn the Braille code but much more difficult to actually feel the dot patterns which make up the letters and words by using touch only. And this can take some considerable effort.
Well done to Patrick for his dedication and the great strides in his Braille journey so far. We are all extremely proud of Patrick and cheer him on to keep up his good work!” (Clare Leitao, Braille tutor).
Thank you very much to Clare for sharing this impressive story with us.
We are grateful to Clare, Anna and Raymond for their perseverance in teaching Braille lessons at Croydon Vision since October 2024. With ten attendees per week, these lessons have proved an important platform for personal growth and professional development for WAG members and for those volunteers supporting with the sessions (Clotilde Ahouadja and Dr Paul Harper).
Well done to Ancella George (Employment Officer and WAG Lead) for her excellent leadership and inspirational drive while organising these sessions. If you would like to join, please let us know. Learning Braille is changing the lives of many of our members like it did for Hellen Keller (Author, Activist, Advocate and Lecturer, 1880-1968) whose wise words resonate with us:
“Literature is my utopia. Here I am not disenfranchised. No barrier of the senses shuts me out from the sweet, gracious discourses of my book friends. They talk to me without embarrassment or awkwardness.“
Unpaid carers are a positive force driving personal and societal growth
Croydon Council, in collaboration with Claremont Communications, has launched a campaign to increase the identification of unpaid carers across the borough as a part of the delivery phase on a critical research project.
This follows a discovery phase which explored the barriers and motivations that prevent people from recognising themselves as carers and accessing support.
At Croydon Vision we respect the role of unpaid carers and recognise the invaluable contribution of their efforts, kindness and compassion. We have reached out to Croydon Council, expressed our commitment to supporting with this important project and are delighted to have been invited to an engagement session this month.
We are very much looking forward to sharing more news soon after this session. We would love our members to get involved by sharing their learnings, insights and suggestions to raise awareness of unpaid carers, and help curate a public communications campaign centred around identification, recognition and support.
“I am very glad to learn about this very important project. Many unpaid carers like myself have been unrecognised and unsupported for years so thank you to Croydon Vision!” (Christine Spooner, Volunteer).
Growth and development fuelled by healthy living
Research shows that a physical activity and a balanced diet support cognitive function and learning across our lifespan. Keeping fit and eating well makes us feel better and help us achieve our personal development goals.
“Compared with sighted individuals, people with visual impairment have a higher prevalence of chronic conditions and lower levels of physical activity.” (Sweeting et al, British Medical Journal, 2020.
At Croydon Vision, we are passionate about eating well, ageing well and living well hence why it’s always helpful to share a friendly reminder of health-focused activities.
Let’s revisit four suggestions to improve our health and wellbeing, namely: yoga, massage, physical exercise and a healthy diet.
Idea 1 – Chair Yoga:
Stella Willow, our Advice & Advocacy Officer, runs a Chair Yoga class on Mondays, 1.30-3pm. The class is for anyone, any ability. We are all unique and this is a totally non-competitive setting.
Stella has had injuries and open-heart surgery which has taught her to start from the very beginning by listening to her body without being critical. Stella emphasises that in gentleness there is peace and healing.
Participants are seated and learn how to breathe deeply, and release tensions from mind and body. Gentle stretches, guided relaxations, self-massage techniques and sound work contribute to increasing physical strength and energy and decreasing stress and anxiety.
Our members have shared brilliant feedback about these sessions. They say:
“I have more flexibility than I have ever had.”
“I found it very relaxing stretching out all parts of the body I don’t usually.”
“Stella’s voice is calming, really lovely. She calms us down. When we have troubles and need calming, it helps to use what Stella is teaching us.”
“I have very bad back ache. Stretching helps the pain.”
Idea 2 – Indian Head Massage:
Stella also runs discounted massage sessions at Croydon Vision or at home. This is a one-to-one, personalised therapy with a cost-effective price of £15 for a 50-minute session. Treatment is delivered sitting down, fully clothed, focusing on the face, scalp, neck, upper back, shoulders and arms. This traditional therapy invigorates all major systems of the body – aiding muscle tension, postural problems, joint mobility, a healthy heart and immune system as well as promoting healthy hair and skin and a natural sense of wellbeing.
Our members say:
“I had been feeling all over the place, worrying and insecure. After my Indian Head Massage with Stella, I felt calm, not worrying anymore or all over the place. I felt grounded and I can find that positive feeling in myself when I need it now”.
“I feel relaxed, my heart rate lowered and I have a feeling of peace and goodness.”
“It opened up a connection between my head and my eye where I feel pain, healing it. I feel fresh and cool in my body. My neck feels very good, the tension has gone. Through the Chakra healing, I could feel the heat coming to me. It’s better than counselling.”
Why don’t you come and join these sessions? Stella looks forward to welcoming you! Please contact Reception on 0208 688 24 86 for further information and bookings.
Idea 3 – Physical Activity and Sport:
Have you always wanted to try sports but been put off by barriers due to your sight loss?
Exciting news! Croydon Vision has launched a range of different sports and physical exercises that are accessible to visually impaired people, thanks to generous funding from the London Marathon Foundation who “believe that participating in sport and physical activity has the power to change lives.”
The sports and exercises are run at Croydon Vision and at different locations across the borough. In addition to our existing successful Keep Fit, Chair Yoga and Kickboxing classes, we will be offering cycling, sailing, and Showdown sessions very soon. We have a plan to curate an even wider range of activities over the next two years.
We will continue to share weekly updates in our Members’ Bulletin. In the meantime, if you have any questions and would like to receive further information on the forthcoming sports and physical activities, please contact Shalini (Outreach Lead) on 07915720132 or shalini.okane@croydonvision.org.uk.
We have received great feedback on the London Marathon activities delivered so far, so why don’t you join us, improve your fitness levels and have fun with us?
We would love to hear from you!
“It has long been known that sport and physical activity make people happier and healthier, and that it can play a unique role in bringing communities together.” (Tim Hollingsworth, Chief Executive, Sport England, 2024)
Idea 4 – Healthy Diet:
Isha, our wonderful Chef, and our team of brilliant volunteers continue to delight us with fresh home-made food cooked onsite at Bedford Hall.
Our September lunch menu has just been released as you will find here: https://croydonvision.org.uk/lunch/.
“When talking about nutrition and health, we often focus on obvious benefits we can put a number on, such as maintaining an ideal weight or reducing our blood pressure. These standard health improvements are easy to recognise, but it’s also true that the right food choices can offer less obvious benefits, such as helping preserve the quality of our vision at all ages.” (Johns Hopkins Medicine)
“Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties”
Erich Fromm (Psychologist and Sociologist, 1900-1980) was right about many things including this quote.
Our members are happy to explore different ways to grow, develop and have fun along the way. In addition to the fun activities from our London Marathon project as highlighted earlier, Stella Willow facilitated a brilliant Creative Writing Taster Workshop at Bedford Hall on Wednesday 27 August.
Stella and the members shared their own past experiences of writing and love of words. The session’s chosen theme was childhood alongside memories of everyone’s distinctive individuality, and experiences which have altered in time as human beings grow into adults. With various exercises and listening to poetry, the group created their first individual poems based the session’s theme, a true testament to the human condition while celebrating everyone’s unique essence. The attendees said:
“I thought it was encouraging – thinking of a line then another line.”
“I liked the way it was drawn out of us.”
“It was very reflective.”
Following the success of this taster session, Stella would love to facilitate more Creative Writing Workshops in the future.
Listen and feel Stella’s wise words and hope you will be inspired to join her:
“I have been writing from an early age and I’m at my happiest when writing a new play. I trained as an actor and learnt how plays need to be structured to make them work. I have had my plays performed in various theatres around the country and won and been shortlisted for play theatre awards. More recently, I was commissioned to write a play about Brighton’s West Pier and the conspiracy theories around it burning down and never being rebuilt.
I’ve been passionate about writing since I can remember – the imagination awakens, and anything is suddenly possible. The complexities of living, the passions, joys, hurts, tragedies shape us into an intricate jigsaw – of words, phrases and images echoing to be heard.”
The power of a blank page can be thrilling and liberating so why don’t you come along to future sessions?
If you wish to find out more, please contact us at Reception on
020 8688 2486 or info@croydonvision.org.uk.
Thank you and happy writing!
“Creativity is intelligence having fun”
Albert Einstein probably never imagined his quote would be presented alongside a very distinctive recipe from Ancella George, our Employment Office and WAG Leader.
New beginnings rejoice in experimentation and creativity hence we are pleased to share this fabulous treat with you!
Ackee is an evergreen tree that grows about 10 metres tall, with a short trunk and a dense crown. The fruit is pear-shaped and has three lobes (two to four lobes are common). When it ripens, it turns from green to a bright red to yellow-orange and splits open to reveal three large, shiny black seeds, each partly surrounded by soft, creamy or spongy, white to yellow flesh — the aril having a nut-like flavour and texture of scrambled eggs. The tree can produce fruit throughout the year, although January–March and October–November are typically periods of fruit production.
Image 2: Fruit as it splits upon ripening
Image 3: Ripe fruit and seeds with arils
Image 4: Part of ripe fruit, two seeds with their arils still attached
Image 5: Ripe seeds with their arils
Ackee and Saltfish Tartlets
This recipe makes 6 tartlets and uses short pastry which can be easily bought at any supermarket.
Ingredients:
4 eggs
½ pint cream
½ pint milk
Salt and black pepper
1 pack spiced or plain short crust pastry
3 handfuls of dried beans
450g/1lb salt cod – you can salt your own cod, poach it in milk then flake
1 tin ackee (200g)
1 spring onion
1 tomato, peeled, deseeded and chopped or you can use tin chopped tomatoes
½ scotch bonnet chilli chopped
1 clove garlic chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon tomato paste (optional)
Method:
Preheat the oven to 190°C. Beat the eggs, add the cream and milk and season. Mix all the other ingredients in a separate bowl.
Line 5” – 6” round pastry tins with the short pastry and cover with greaseproof paper. Add the beans and blind bake for 5 – 8 minutes. Once the pastry is firm take it out of the oven, remove the beans and greaseproof paper and reduce the oven temperature to 170°C.
Sprinkle a little ackee and saltfish mixture in each of the tartlet case then add the egg mix and bake gently for 10 – 15 minutes making sure the eggs are cooked until firm enough to serve hot or cold. This can be eaten with a nice Caesar salad.
Will you try this recipe? Please share your experience on 0208 688 24 86 or email us on info@croydonvision.org.uk. Can’t wait to hear from you! Enjoy!
Death Wears Silk: A Croydon Murder Mystery by Sarah Morgan
“The job of the artist is always to deepen the mystery.” (Francis Bacon, Painter, 1909-1992)
Our fabulous Sarah Morgan (Membership Lead) never ceases to amaze us with her multiple talents and endless loveliness. In this short story, Sarah unleashes creativity, fun and experimentation through mystery. Well done to Sarah!
Let’s get started.
Croydon, Wednesday 18 August 1880, was a day seemingly like any other. Allders & Grants department store was readying for another day of trade, as it had done Monday to Saturday, from the hours of 9am to 6pm for the last eighteen years.
Outside the main front entrance, the doormen stood in the refined compartment as expected of their duty, with a discreet, unreadable facial expression not daring to convey the blistering humidity of the high summer month. Dressed in bottle green velvet coats, with gold trimmed edges and brass buttons, they appeared as stoic as Her Majesty Queen Victoria’s guardsmen during a parade. Head of doormen Eric mopped his sweat-beaded brow with a gold silk kerchief, quietly pulled from his breast pocket when he was sure no one was looking.
Up on the fourth floor, the restaurant bristled with anticipation for the day’s fine diners. The champagne flutes sparkled like diamonds and the genuine-grade silver cutlery shone as it caught the rays of sunlight pouring in from the glass-domed ceiling above. Head Chef Isha was gearing up to deliver the instructions for today’s menu to her team; lamb cutlets with minted peas for the entrée, turbot with lobster sauce for the fish course, roast pheasant and glazed carrots for the main, and a spectacular Charlotte Russe gateau for dessert. If that wasn’t enough to satisfy the stomach, then would follow a selection of fine cheeses from France, and seasonal fruits grown in the atrium on the grounds below. Sous Chef Nigel looked visibly nervous, his mind had been all over the place of late, and the leaping somersaults in his stomach were not aiding the waves of extreme nausea buckling at
his insides. Maître D’ Bola strode up and down the lined assembly of his servers, to inspect their uniforms were crisp, pristine and to regulation. Waitress Sarah shifted uncomfortably on her feet as soon as he passed, she had only been in the job for a week, and had already gotten a ferocious and very public dressing-down from Lady Penelope de Montfort, when a few days before, she had mistakenly served her an anchovy toast hors d’oeuvre, to which she was deathly allergic. Sarah knew she was too clumsy for this calling, but she desperately needed the wages.
Down on the third floor was the Children’s Department, and Manager Daniel stood with an air of satisfaction as he scanned his painstakingly arranged displays. As far as the eye could see were the playthings of dreams; rows of finest porcelain dolls, exquisitely carved wooden rocking horses, armies of hand painted tin soldiers and mechanical wind-up animals of every species imaginable, to name but a few. Encircling all of this was a fully operational train set, happily chugging its way around the expansive tracks, choo-chooing proudly as it departed another station. It was almost an upset to Daniel that soon flurries of excited little ones would come through and ransack the toys, but in the end, nothing pleased him more than seeing a child beaming from ear-to-ear with happiness at their new purchase. There was one however, the brutish, self-important son of Lady de Monfort, Edmund de Monfort, who caused him nothing but distress. Nothing was good enough for this insolent rogue, even the eye-wateringly expensive chess set which Daniel had gone to great lengths to source and import from China, which ended up on the floor as Edmund had turfed it with great force on its bottom-side, in a fit of rage.
The second floor was home to the Gentleman’s Department, with suiting and tailoring fit for the most distinguished of fellows. Camel hair overcoats, sophisticated tailcoats, silken and brocade waistcoats, high-quality cotton shirts in every colour hue and finest woollen trousers adorned golden dress rails. An exquisite antique vanity showcased costly jewelled pins with delicate, yet ostentatious gemstones, to pair with the impressive selection of cravats and neck-ties. Black and brown high quality patent leather brogues, silver-handled walking canes, elaborate gold pocket watches and plush top hats were but some of the accessories boasted by the collection. Manageress Ines was looking over the day’s appointments. A dry lump formed in her throat, and her knees trembled as her eyes came upon the 11am booking for Lord Henry Percival de Monfort to have a full wardrobe fitting. She knew he was one of the store’s most important customers; he spent a vast fortune on a routine basis, as though it were mere pennies. However, like his wife and son, he was a petulant, entitled and arrogant man, who thought nothing of berating and scolding anyone he perceived to be causing him the slightest inconvenience. Not long before, he had had one of Ines’ tailors sacked, for gently suggesting that perhaps a wide-fitting shoe would better compliment Lord de Monfort’s gout-ridden foot. Ines had pled desperately with the store’s owner to save the promising young employee, but she knew deep-down it was a futile pursuit.
On the ground floor, the glinting white marble floored foyer laid with bottle-green velvet carpet walkways, led to the grand oak staircase. For the lesser climbing-inclined shopper, there was a steam-powered elevator to transport them to every level, manned by lift operators Peter and Paul. To the left of the staircase was the grand atrium, which held thousands of sweetly fragranced flowers and fauna to excite the senses. Wrought-iron balustrades were covered in sky-reaching vibrant hollyhocks, and at every turn one could see and inhale a vast array of ferns, begonias, orchids, hydrangeas, chrysanthemums, roses and lilies. The heat was palpable, but eager employees were on hand to vigorously fan even the most disgruntled of customers, seeking floral ornaments to enhance their already luxurious homes. Gardener Dave was spraying some aspidistra with a secret concoction he had invented to keep the insects at bay, with a perplexed look of concern on his face. Across the way, head florist Stella was checking the day’s delivery. She let out an audible gasp and hurriedly closed one of the boxes shut, when she saw something she never expected to see. Outside in the back courtyard, stable manager David was tenderly feeding a sugar cube to his favourite steed, Frank. It was his duty to ensure the stable boys had the delivery horses ready and presentable for the day. As much as he tried to banish it from his thoughts, an angry altercation he had inadvertently witnessed the day before, kept rushing with force to the forefront of his mind.
Delivery Coordinator Nima was on standby to ensure smooth running, every purchase ordered for home transportation would be packaged in the store’s signature bottle-green boxes, expertly wrapped with gold velvet ribbon, ready to be loaded onto the horse-driven carriages. This service came with a high price tag, thus the utmost attention to detail was paramount.
But up on the first floor, the ladies’ fashion department, something was very wrong. Seamstress Clara had gone to dress one of the mannequins in the latest Parisian style, as was in vogue with the fashion elite. She had let out a blood curdling scream, and colleagues Ayeza and Shalini raced over to see the cause of the hubbub. Clara’s face was drained of all colour, and she stood anchored to the floor unable to move, even an inch. “What happened?”, Shalini spluttered in fright. Ayeza started to tug Shalini’s arm, but was struggling to find the words to describe what she saw in front of her. Amidst the sophisticatedly dressed mannequins, who were gleefully unaware of the scene before them, lay a stiff and rigid Lady Penelope de Monfort. Her bodice was stained with a pool of dark crimson, a pair of dress scissors plunged deep into her chest. There was no two words about it, she was dead and somebody had made very sure of that.
- Any familiar character names are used for entertainment purposes only, and bear no resemblance to real-life individuals.
For the next part of the story, we want to hear from you! If you have any ideas for what should happen next, want to collaborate with Sarah or even submit a piece of your own, email Sarah.Morgan@croydonvision.org.uk.
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Appendix – Our Story in Photographs
These images are described in the Newsletter audio version. We have inserted the majority of the images in this Appendix to facilitate a smooth and swift flow for users of reading software hence presenting the text in an almost linear format throughout the document.
Image 6 (left): Nicola Newman, our new CEO
(See article in pages 3 and 4).
Image 7 (right): Volunteers, members and staff enjoying our Tropical Twist Summer BBQ (See article in page 5).
Images 8 and 9:
Volunteers cooking at our Tropical Twist BBQ (see article in page 5).
Image 10: Mohamed Mahdi volunteering at Croydon Vision (page 6).
Image 11: Nana Ama Brago (Ama) proudly sharing her Level 2 Health and Care Cerficate (page 7).
Images 12 and 13:
Our younger members are courageous and curious digital detectives (pages 10-11).
Images 14, 15 and 16:
Our wonderful Tech Buddies, part of Daniel’s IT and Digital Transformation Team (pages 8-9). From left to right: Peter and Joshua, Peter and Daniel, and Dr Paul Harper.
Images 17 and 18:
Volunteers, membes and staff enjoying healthy walks at local Croydon parks in August 2025 thanks to the funding of the London Marathon Foundation (see healthy living on pages 16-19).
Images 19, 20, 21 and 22:
Members enjoying our Creative Workshop Taster session on Wednesday 27 August 2025 (see articles on creativity, pages 20-29).
Top image: Stella facilitating the session, and Yehudi shares his work
Bottom images: Yehudi, Mary and Theo share their work. Well done!
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Thank you very much for reading our Newsletter.
Look forward to hearing from you!
