I don't know if members have picked this up but the GRO has entered the 21st Century. Birth registrations between 1837 and 1915 now have an online search facility which gives the mother's maiden name. Death registrations between 1837 and 1957 now give the age at death.
The online search facility is available at
https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/c...indexes_search. You will need to register, if you haven't already done so. Certificates can then be ordered digitally (PDF) or, as normal. Digital is cheaper.