Alderman Lt. Col. Charles Herbert Gibson, J.P. (1881-1962)

Alderman Gibson served as a Councillor for the Central Ward from 1921 until 1930, and again from 1932 until elected an Alderman in 1937 in which office he served until 1958.

Col. Gibson held the office of Mayor from 1949 to 1950 and was admitted an Honorary Freeman of the borough in 1954.  He was appointed one of Her Majesty's Deputy Lieutenants for the County of Surrey in 1951.

In his long career on the Council, Col. Gibson served on many Committees: he was Chairman of the Planning and Development Committee from 1945 to 1949, and of the Air Raid Precautions Committee from 1938 to 1940.  After five and a half years' commissioned service with the Royal Engineers, Alderman Gibson undertook the Chairmanship of the Council's Housing Committee.  With thirty years experience of the building trade behind him he was unanimously voted the man for the job and he energetically tackled the toughest job of the day providing as many much needed homes in the shortest possible time.

He also represented the Council on several organisations, including the Whitgift Educational Foundation and the Governing Body of the Croydon High School for Girls.