John Doe

Status:

Open

Jurisdiction:

Metropolitan Police East London (CORONER)

Recovery Location:

Walthamstow, London, United Kingdom

Summary:

Bryan Alwyn Woolis was a man who was struck by a vehicle in 2015 in London, England. Several people who were acquainted with him had misremembered or misheard his name as "Brian Wallace". At around 10:20 PM on 22 January 2015, Woolis was struck by a black Mercedes on Forest Road in Dalston, in the east of London. He later died at Royal London Hospital of multiple injuries. He was identified in April 2025 through the work of Locate International.

Vital Statistics

Circumstances of Recovery:

Late into the evening of Thursday, 22nd January 2015, a man was crossing Chingford Road just north of the busy junction with Forest Road and Hoe Street when he was tragically struck by a car and killed. At around 10:20 PM on 22 January 2015, Woolis was struck by a black Mercedes on Forest Road in Dalston, in the east of London. He later died at Royal London Hospital of multiple injuries. Woolis had lived on Chingford Road in Walthamstow for about a decade and worked as a building contractor. A search of his residence turned up no identity documents, and he had no identification on him when he was killed. His cell phone provided no clues as his only contacts were work-related, and neither his colleagues nor his flatmate could verify his identity. The 21-year-old driver was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving at the time and was eventually convicted and handed a suspended sentence.

Additional Details:

Witnesses were sought and the driver was prosecuted, but the case remained open because the man's identity could not be confirmed – until now. Locate International, a missing persons charity, shared an appeal to identify the man in January 2024, and this was reported by the press in Sheffield. Neighbourhood Policing Team Inspector Nik Dodsworth became aware of the case through an article in the Sheffield Star, and used up his free time to try to find out more about Brian Wallace. Detective work and a partial DNA match helped Insp Dodsworth confirm that Brian Wallace's real name was actually Bryan Alwyn Woolis. A deeper dive into his family history found an obituary for an Alwyn Woolis - his father - who had died in Derbyshire in 2016. The obituary listed three children, including Bryan. Bryan's sister moved to London in the 1990s, Bryan followed a few years later and he would visit her from time to time. However, Bryan lived a quiet life by choice, and after his sister moved back up north in the 2000s to look after their father, they didn't see each other again. Because the family did not stay in regular contact, it was not considered unusual not to hear from Bryan for long periods of time, and so he was not listed as a missing person. Nine years after the fatal collision in Walthamstow, she was able to make a positive identification: the man who died was her brother, Bryan Woolis. Locate International was also able to find Bryan's grave - in a small corner of Manor Park Cemetery in east London. He is buried in a common grave alongside three other men; a modest gravestone is marked 'Brian Wallace 22.01.2015'. He is believed to have been close to someone named Sylvia, who worked in country and western venues in the Nottingham area. The charity is now actively trying to trace her, and anyone who knew her. Locate International is working to secure a new headstone for Mr Woolis's grave at Manor Park Cemetery in London with the correct spelling of his name.

Case Last Updated:

Oct 16, 2026