h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

South Ockendon Famous residents

Graham Chinn, later Director of the English National Theatre alex Walkinshaw - Smitthy in the Bill
Gary Bushell
Fatima Whitbread athlete.
Phil Davis - appeared in Alien 3, Pleasentville, Bounty with Mel Gibson
Victor Maddern - 1950's/1960's actor
Terry Venables the English football manager

Famous Essex scientists

Dr William Gilberd (1544-1603) - scientist (1544-1603)
William Gilberd (or Gilbert) was the pioneer of the study of magnetism in England. He lived in Trinity Street, Colchester.

Lionel Lukin, Inventor of the Lifeboat and Rain Gauge - (1742-1834)
Lionel Lukin, born in Little Dunmow, invented the lifeboat and the rain gauge.

Guglielmo Marconi, father of the wireless (1874-1937)
Marconi put into practice the principles of radio. His first factory was in Chelmsford and the first public broadcast was made from the county town.

John Ray - (1627-1705)
Braintree-educated John Ray is known as the Father of Natural History for his ground-breaking Historia Plantarum.

Famous artists

Bill Burton (1907-1995) - popular artist who launched a thousand (and more) sunsets (1907-1995)
Bill Burton is probably best known for his seascapes. "Eventide" adorned the wall of the flat above the corner shop in television's Coronation Street.

John Constable (1776-1837) - artist who painted the Hay Wain (1776-1837)
Constable was born in East Bergholt on the Essex-Suffolk border and went to school in Dedham.

Patrick Fisher - maritime artist (1930 - 1987)
Paddy Fisher was born in Parkeston, near Harwich, and went on to record his local area in oils. A press review of an exhibition after his death said: "Patrick Fisher was to Harwich what Constable was to Flatford and Dedham, perhaps more so."

Thomas Gainsborough (1727-1788) - portrait painter (1727-1788)
Gainsborough was born in Sudbury, a Suffolk town just five miles from the Essex border. He is best known as a portrait painter.

Sir Alfred Munnings - horse artist and hater of modern art (1878-1959)
Munnings' work was owned by, among others, the Duchess of Windsor, The Astor family and Bing Crosby. His wife's dog was sneaked into the Queen's wedding at Westminster Abbey in a specially-made handbag.

Music

Busted - Band
One of the band members is James Bourne from Southend.

Vince Clarke (1961- ) - musician

Keith Flint (1971 - ) - musician (1971 - )
Manic Keith is frontman for the band Prodigy.

Liam Howlett (1971 - ) - musician (1971 - )
Liam is the musical force behind the band Prodigy.

Jay Kay, frontman of jazz-funk band Jamiroquai (1971-)
Jay Kay fronts jazz-funk outfit Jamiroquai - and was born in Colchester.

Dr Feelgood
The feelgood factor is as strong as ever for this south Essex band.

Tina Cousins - singer
Former model turned singer who has appeared on the Brit Awards and had top 20 hits.

Blur - Britpop band
Chart-topping band which has connections with Colchester.

Sade - solo artist
Information on the singer who grew up in Clacton.

Scott Robinson - Singer with pop band 5ive.

Alison Moyet - Singer and part of pop group Yazoo.

Depeche Mode - Basildon based group

Doreen Waddell - Vocalist with Soul II Soul

Helen Mirren
Born on July 26 1945 in Ilford Essex.
Birth name Ilyena Vasilievna Mironov
Educated at St. Bernard's High School, in Westcliffe on Sea.

Academy Awards
Best Actress
2006 The Queen
Nominated: Best Supporting Actress
1994 The Madness of King George
2001 Gosford Park

Emmy Awards
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Mini series or a Film
1996 Prime Suspect 4: Scent of Darkness
1999 The Passion of Ayn Rand
2006 Elizabeth I

Golden Globe Awards
Best Actress - Motion Picture Drama
2007 The Queen

BAFTA Awards
Best Actress in a leading role
2006 The Queen
Best Actress (TV)
1994 Prime Suspect 3
1993 Prime Suspect 2
1992 Prime Suspect

Error Helen Mirren was born at Leigh-on-Sea not Ilford.

Drat, she was a good one too, never mind

Emmily

Kat, you were correct, Helen Mirren does have connections with Essex. This is from BBC Ceefax -

Call to celebrate Dame Helen Day

A day to celebrate Oscar-winner Dame Helen Mirren has been proposed by the council leader in the actress's home county of Essex.

Lord Hanningfield, Conservative leader of Essex County Council, has called on the government to allow local Bank Holidays to celebrate local heroes.

"Helen Mirren is a great ambassador for Essex", he said.

"Ditch the old stereotypes, dame Helen is the perfect example of the hot bed of talent we have in Essex".


I'll see what else I can find before I add Helen to the page.

Emmily

Just popping this here, so I don't forget it David Beckham - A1138600

Lilac

Lee Mead won the ‘Any Dream will do’ contest to take on the role of Joseph in Andrew Lloyd Webber's new production of 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.' He won the contest with a majority of the 3 million votes cast. He is now performing as Joseph at The Adelphi Theatre in the West of End of London.

Lee Mead, originally comes from Southend-On-Sea. He has trained in acting, singing and dancing at the Whitehall Performing Arts College.

He has had a small role in BBC drama, ‘Murder in Mind’ as well as appearing as a dancer in the Geri Halliwell's 'It's Raining Men' music video

Lee other jobs have included working at a KFC and working as a postman.

His other roles as an actor/singer has been the Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera and the lead role as Chris in the Miss Saigon –musical. He was an understudy for both roles.

Sorry, I've not had much time for this recently, due to changes in RL. I've resigned from two hootoo voluntary positions through lack of time. I'll try to find some time soon to add some of this to the pages.

Emmily