Mr Fred Terry of Hodsoll Street was a great character. For many years he was a member of Ash Parish Council. He was a great supporter of the fox and drag hunts, and well known for his bicycle. His housekeeper invariably inquired of him at the end of the day "where have you left your bike tonight?" His usual habit was to prop it against a hedge and forget where he had left it. Quite a usual remark at the "Green Man" was to hear "I saw old Fred’s bike in the hedge last night as I went home". To the credit of all it was never touched.

Mr Tom Tingle also of Hodsoll Street was another well known character. His son farmed part of what is the "Pettings Court Farm". Resplendent in curly brimmed bowler, wing collar, lastly shooting stick and dog, he was a joy to behold every Sunday morning at the "Green Man". A butcher in his early days in the Old Kent Road, his early days and glories never departed from him. Before the War Years came favoured and business customers were always conducted to his shed on the farm where a barrel of beer stood in the corner. Many memories of Tom, his drooping moustache edged with froth, his cob pipe, and seated on a pile of sacks dwelling on the glories of the day when he bought the "best pen of porkers" at the Smithfield Show.

Mr King lived for many years in the house known as "Greenfields" opposite the "Green Man". He was a wheelwright and greatly disappointed Hodsoll Street by dying within a few months of his 100th birthday.

"Wise Woman of Ash". About 100 years ago there lived in one of the Almshouses at Turners Oak an old woman named Mrs Stevens. To the adult population she was known as "The Wise Woman of Ash", but to the children she was "The Old Witch". She claimed to be able to charm away anything in the nature of corns, bunions, warts, abscesses etc, and would exercise her charm in payment of one shilling. Another version of her activities is that she collected plants from the hedgerows with which she concocted curative salves which she sold. The children of that time were very much afraid of her. She lived to a great age. Her coffin was made by Mr Fred Fletcher, Mr Frank Fletcher’s father, who was then the Undertaker of the Village, as well as the Carpenter. She is buried in the centre of the Churchyard behind the old Yew Tree.

The late Mrs A Gilbert who lived in the picturesque Oast House at Pettings was a sister of Mr F Fletcher, the retired Water Inspector. She was a very prominent figure in the Church life of Ridley for many years. She taught in the Sunday School, was a Church Warden, a member of the Altar Guild and also cleaned the Church. As quite a young girl she joined Ash Church choir and remained a member of 30 years.