I'm a bit late posting this as I've only just joined so I hope it is still relevant.

I am from Bermondsey although no longer live there. John William Roll is my great grandfather, my mother's maternal grandfather. I recently traced my/his family history. He was the only surviving son of James Allwood Roll and Charlotte Crook both from Walsingham, Norfolk. John William was born 26 Sept 1870 and died in 1937.

John William was, I understand, a founder member of the Independent Labour Party in Bermondsey and first stood for election in 1898. He was Chairman of the Rotherhithe Branch of the Transport Workers Union and worked as a waterside man near to Dockhead.

I have little more information other than his descended family proudly talk of his principled and ethical ways who never saw him lose his temper or raise his voice in anger. At present he has one surviving grandaughter, my aunt, who is 91.