Dr Charles Percy Croft was the Founding Secretary of the Lodge and Regimental Surgeon to the Victoria Rifles.
Born in 1816, Croft was an eminent surgeon of his day, having studied at Edinburgh and University. College London, was elected a member of the Royal College of Surgeons on 13 December 1839 and was for some years Mr Liston’s House Surgeon. His hospital career was distinguished and obtained several gold and other medals, including the Fellowes Gold Medal of University College in 1838-1839.
He went on to be associated with and promote the Great Northern Hospital. He went out to Brazil, to Rio de Janiero and had medical charge of some 4000 workmen engaged on improvements in the city.
He died on April 7th, 1873, after a long and painful illness, and was buried in Newark Cemetery, having spent the last four years in private practise in Newark on Trent.
Croft became the second Worshipful Master of the Lodge.
His appointment as Surgeon to the Regiment was gazetted alongside his co-founder William Collins and fellow Lodge member Abraham Trew.