ISABEL TARRANT
1905-1986
PLATFORM GIRL
Born in Reigate in 1905, Isabel was one of six children of Amelia née White, a cane chair re-seater and
Sampson Tarrant, a glass and china riveter – repairing and strengthening damaged items using metal staples.
Around 1921 Isabel was working at Redhill railway station as a platform girl. Not unlike a cinema usherette,
this involved selling refreshments to passengers waiting for trains. The refreshment rooms would’ve been
run by catering firm Spiers and Pond, who had 200 branches at their peak – as well as 12 hotels including
Brighton’s Grand Hotel and the Gaiety and Criterion Theatre restaurants in London. Spiers and Pond started
in Australia in 1851, funding the England cricket team visit and play matches in Australia in 1861 (losing all
but one match apparently). When they arrived in Britain in the 1860s, taking over station refreshment rooms,
rather than paying rent they shared the profits with the railway companies. Their food was good quality at a
fair price and so a great success.
Isabel married stonemason William Green in 1926 and she would’ve given up her job. They moved to 56
Colesmead Road, Redhill overlooking the playing field and had two children, William Jnr. and Robert.
During WWII William worked as an ARP gravedigger when called upon. Isabella lived until 1986.
