Famous People from Bexley

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Gambon, Sir Michael

Sir Michael Gambon, the actor, was born in Dublin 19 October 1940, and was brought to Britain as a child when his father decided to seek work rebuilding blitzed London. The family eventually moved to Hurstwood Avenue, Northend and Michael attended Crayford Secondary School. He was apprenticed as a toolmaker at Vickers, Crayford, and in his spare time, when aged 18, started helping at Erith Playhouse. By the time he was 21 he was a qualified engineer and continued at the job for a further year while attempting to start up his theatrical career at the Unity Theatre. Kings Cross. In 1964 he wrote to Michael MacLiammoir, who ran Dublin’s Gate Theatre, enclosing a CV describing a rich and wholly imaginary theatre career. He was taken on and has never looked back.

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Hancock, Sheila

Sheila Hancock, the actress, was born at Blackgang, Isle of Wight, in 1933 where her parents ran a hotel. In her childhood they moved to public houses in Berkshire and King’s Cross before her father left the licensed trade and became a checker at Vickers Armstrong, Crayford. The family moved to 58 Latham Road, Bexleyheath where Sheila was brought up. Her mother worked at Mitchells of Erith, once a large store in the town. Sheila attended several local schools (six schools before she was 11) including Upton Road Juniors, before winning a scholarship to Dartford Grammar School for Girls. She later studied at RADA and got her first big break in the TV comedy The Rag Trade. She has worked continuously in the theatre, film and television. In 1983 she was appointed Artistic Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company and has also been a director of the National Theatre. She was married to Alec Ross from 1954 until his death in 1971 and to John Thaw from 1974 until his death in 2002.

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Heath, Sir Edward

Sir Edward Heath (1916-2005), who was Prime Minister between 1970-74, took Britain into the European Economic Community (EEC) in January 1973. A Conservative politician, he was an author, musician and yachtsman.The only British Prime Minister to have led a national squad at any sport, he captained Britain’s team of three ocean-going yachts which won the Admiral’s Cup in 1971. For 51 years – the full span of his membership of the Commons – he continuously represented Bexley under a variety of constituency names over the years. He was MP for Bexley from 1950-74, then Bexley-Sidcup from 1974-83 and for Old Bexley and Sidcup from 1983 until he stepped down at the 2002 general election as the longest-serving member of the House. In May 1971 he was made Freeman of the Borough of Bexley.

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