About Us

The Croydon Group is run by volunteers chaired by Tom Baterip who has been involved with the group since 1981 when it started.

In 1980 Nina Essex arrived at Mayday Hospital from Kings College Hospital and served for 24 years. Very early in her tenure she saw the need for the British Diabetic Association to be represented in Croydon and felt it would benefit people living with diabetes and the diabetic department. A meeting was arranged one cold evening in Febuary 1981, Tom and Margaret Baterip went along to a meeting at St. Peter's Church Hall in Ledbury road expecting that few people would turn up but were amazed to find about 500 people attended. The meeting resulted in the formation of 2 groups, the Croydon and District Branch and the Purley Branch, with both still in existence today. Tom and Margaret put thier names forward secure in the feeling that they would not be wanted from the 500 attended, however little did they know that decision would loom large in their lives to date.

The group organises a number of fund raising activities and have contributed to the Research and Childrens Fund of Diabetes UK.

The group is widely known within Croydon. We became members of the Croydon Voluntary Action, took part in the review of Diabetic Services in Croydon and represented on the Local Diabetic Services Advisory Group(LDSAG) and the Living with Diabetes Group.