Stan Hollands
Stan was a well known local conservationist who lived in the Langdon Hill area. it was much down to him that "Willow Park, Marks Hill Wood, Hoppit Shaw and the Dunton Slopes" - all of which now constitute the Langdon Nature Reserve, were not built on.
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Elsie Lagsding
Elsie was not one to get up on the platform and speak but was a hard-working enthusiastic and at times a frightened worker for the cause for votes for women. Elsie was a strong supporter of Emmeline
Pankhurst's fight for pacifism and the end of the slaughter of the First World War.
After the war ‘The Representation of People Act 1918’ gave the women over the age of 30 the Vote but it was not until 1928 that all women received the right to vote at the age of 21 , the same as the men.
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Hannah Lake - A founding Mother of America
On Friday 31 st March 2023 the Lord Lieutenant of Essex, Mrs Jennifer Tolhurst unveiled a Blue Plaque in recognition of Hannah Lake at Wickford library. Hannah sailed to New England in 1635 at the age of 15. – Amongst her descendants include 7th and 8th Great Grandsons ex-Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W Bush.
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Ralph Morgan
Ralph Morgan was a well-known taxi driver based in Basildon and was the spokesman for the Basildon Hackey Carriage Drivers’ Association (BBHCA) – earning the nickname “Mr Echo” for regularly appearing in the paper due to his campaigning efforts.
He spent years campaigning for the rights of his colleagues and would do anything for his customers. Mr. Morgan, who colleagues say “would do anything for his customers, he was a man of the people.”
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Joan Rosaire
On 9th July 2024 at ‘The Fold’ 72 Laindon Road, Billericay, Essex, (previously Quilters Junior School). Tom Roberts circus friend of Joans unveiled a blue plaque in her honour. In attendance was the Mayor of Basildon - Alan Davies and The Lord Lieutenant of Essex, Jennifer Tolhurst plus many dignitaries from the
circus world. The tenants of the building the Billericay Arts Associations provided excellent light refreshments after the speeches and unveiling.
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Joan Sims
Joan was born in Station House at Laindon Station in May 1930. Her father was the Station Master.
Although she is famed for appearing in 24 Carry on Film’s, she did appear in over 100 motion pictures and television productions:
- Doctor at Sea starring Dirk Bogarde and Brigitte Bardot
- Doctor in the House starring Dirk Bogarde
- Just my Luck with Norman Wisdom
- Only Fools and Horses by John Sullivan
- As Time Goes By with Judy Dench
- On the Up with Dennis Waterman
And many more.
Before making the big time, she had appeared locally for the ‘Glee Club’, Laindon Operatic Society (now BasOp.), Langdon Players and the local Youth Centre Club.
Joan never married; although she did get a proposal from Kenneth Williams. He said "We will be the talk of the town."
Her autobiography ‘High Spirits’ was published in 2000 and a year later she died at the age of 71
On the 75th anniversary of her birth a plaque was placed on the Station House Wall
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Greg Smith
Gregory Ivor Smith (4 November 1939 – 19 February 2009) was a British film producer who had successes in the world of theatre and television. Smith was born in Twickenham and raised in Laindon by his aunt after his parents died.
During the 1950s he became a member of the Laindon Community Centre Youth Drama Club.
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Marion Wilberforce
Thanks to the work of Basildon Borough Heritage Society, a plaque was unveiled on 9 August at Nevendon Manor, north of the Essex Town, to commemorate pioneering aviation Marion Wilberforce, who lived there for 40 years. With the support of Lord Lieutenant of Essex, Jennifer Tolhurtst, a team led by theatre director and filmmaker Graham Watts researched Wilberforce's life.
Born in Aberdeenshire in 1902, she studied agriculture and was a keen mountaineer before gaining her pilot's licence, and went on to become one of the first eight women to join the Air Transport Auxiliary in World war Two, flying Spitfires, Hurricanes and Lancaster bombers.
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