Gillian was born in Essex and now lives in Latchingdon. She was one of the early female stunt artists, working in many well known films and TV programme with famous actors. Despite a serious accident on a film set in 1966, she continued to do stunt work up to the age of 82.

Sheila talks about the creating of the Maldon Millennium Embroidery. She was one of the chief embroiderers and recalls the details and intricacy of the work; also, the “Thursday Ladies” who worked at Lee Cash’s home for over 2 years.

Chris Copsey and Judy Smith are the daughters of Douglas Ball who owned the wet fish shop in Maldon High Street. They have strong memories of helping in the shop and going out with Dad on his round in the van.  They also recall other local High Street businesses, the family involvement in both the Rotary and All Saint’s Church, and their parents’ dancing classes.

Lewis was born in Purleigh but spent much of his time in Maldon. His uncle started Banyard's Taxi service. After school, Lewis worked at the Ironworks and then on the construction of Bradwell Power Station. He recalls that parts of Maldon had a radio relay service for those who could not afford their own radios. He remembers the gas works and another uncle who was responsible for the gas lighting in the High Street.

Bob has lived in the Maldon district since the age of 17. He was elected to Maldon District Council in 1983. He has been Leader of the Council twice and Chairman three times. He has been involved in many notable changes and innovations in Maldon, has met several of the Royal Family and was awarded an MBE in 2015.

Richard explains the history of the Bright family solicitors and their ancestor the “fat man” of Maldon.  He remembers the High Street and the Prom Park in the late 1930s and 1940s; also the British Legion, Home Guard and other war time events, plus the visit of WW1 German soldiers to Maldon in 1937.

John remembers the Southend-to-Clacton bus on which he travelled to Maldon in the late 1930s and early 40s. Also, the Maldon bus station, Prom Park in war time, the High Street, and Ansell’s the Butchers delivering to Danbury. He joined the Home Guard when it was re-formed in 1950. He trained in Danbury Scouts Hut, wore an army uniform with a blue beret, and often went to Maldon to train with their Home Guard on waste land by the Causeway.

Stafford remembers the Point-to-Point horse racing at Beeleigh every Easter Monday, working in the ‘Valley’ as a teenager, later working at Green’s Flour Mill, and the wonderful week-long Carnivals in the Park.

A lovely recollection of early life from the 1930s onwards of living in a cottage on the Causeway in Maldon, schools, wartime and early working life, including being treated for TB 1953-1956. She remembers all the Co-op shops in Maldon and John Sadd’s timber yard and fields.

The sisters talk about their young lives in Heybridge Basin and about their father, Alf “Dilberry” Clark – his work and his interests. They recall the barges, the local shops, working at Sadds, the eel business, the Jolly Sailor pub and fishing.

Ted speaks about his father’s fishing boat, selling the catch on the beach and enjoying swimming in the lake. He tells precisely how dabs and eels were caught, how he helped with the pleasure and rowing boats on the quay, his apprenticeship at Sadds, being in the RAF, going wild-fowling and how everyone seemed friendlier in the past.

Judith is a remarkable lady, 90 years old. From a large family, she recalls the fear of wartime, working in Maldon Post Office and then going to college to become a Maths teacher. Her Maths skills helped her to learn bell ringing and the piano. She is also an impressive artist and knew Charlie Tait well. She remembers the Queen’s visit in 2010.

John remembers helping his parents in their popular fish & chip shop in Maldon High Street. As a young boy he loved being involved and, when older, he ran their Heybridge shop. Later he opened a very successful restaurant adjacent to the shop.

Joyce’s grandfather started a plumbing business from the front room of his home in Wantz Road in the 1930s. Joyce speaks about the expansion of the business, managed by the family right up to the present day. Reeves is the well-known hardware store in the High Street.

Pat had a very happy childhood in Maldon and she recalls many fascinating details of life in North Street, playing on the ‘Downs’, war time and the excitement of everyday activities with her family and friends.

Margaret, past Chairman and President of the Maldon Society, talks about that Society, the Maeldune Heritage Centre, the Embroidery, Maldon Museum and the well-known Victorian evenings.

A great compilation of recollections of childhood in Maldon, both before and during the war. A good insight into family life in the 1930s where money was tight and children had many and varied experiences and adventures! Recollections of Maldon Bus Station, Sunday fish deliveries, pea picking, the Hippodrome cinema, ARP exercises in war time and many more.

Diana lives at ‘Crossways’, a house which her grandfather and his wife, Myra Sadd-Brown bought in 1908. Diana describes how Myra, a suffragette, was imprisoned and fought for justice and equal rights for women, both in the UK and abroad. Diana also recalls the Sadd family timber business in Maldon and her own busy life.

John is an internationally famous sculptor and painter. He talks about his work and the many sculptures he has created, including Nelson Mandela, the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, to name but a few. His well-known local sculptures are Byrhtnoth and the sundial in St Mary’s Churchyard.

Andrew, a Maldonian, clearly remembers all his many childhood activities. He and his friends met ‘old Mr Foyle’ at Beeleigh who chatted to them about the Abbey. Andrew recalls life in Cherry Gardens, walking to school, building bonfires and much more.

Colin’s parents lived in part of the old Maldon Workhouse which they were renovating. As a teenager, he started working on barges and later skippered ‘coasters’ around the coast of UK. At the age of 35 he was appointed lock-keeper at Heybridge Basin where he stayed for 25 years. After this he was manager of the whole Chelmer & Blackwater navigation and the Old Ship pub.

Michael recounts the history of Acacia Drive. He was only 2 years old when his house was bombed but he describes the horror of it. He recalls his school days at All Saints Primary and remembers the vast Co-op empire in Maldon, shops and land, which were eventually sold off. Some of the history of the United Reformed Church is mentioned, also the building work in 2000 which resulted in a time capsule being discovered.

Nigel explains how and why he started his Maldon Brewing Company, “Farmer’s Ales”. He describes the setting up of the business and the details of the brewing process. Now retired, he is helping his son expand the brewery into new premises.

Andrew describes his involvement with the Maldon Millennium Embroidery. He worked with the chief designer, Humphrey Spender, assisting with the designing, his particular role being the arranging of coloured netting on the base fabric.

Sarah is the well-known ’knot lady’ who sits on the quay in summer months with her husband Richard making and selling knotted bracelets, pendants, key fobs etc. She tells how she started 31 years ago and where she has travelled to teach and learn new techniques.

Christopher describes his early memories of Beeleigh Abbey and his grandfather William Foyle. He recalls the Foyle business, the library, his Aunt Christina and some of the restoration work on the Abbey. A recent visit by Canons of the Premonstratensian Catholic order is related along with some of the history of the Abbey.

Bill explains that, as a soldier in the British army, he volunteered to march in the 22-mile-long procession for the Queen’s Coronation in 1953, which he describes in detail. He also talks about his work as a marketing director for an international firm in Heybridge which was eventually bought out by an American firm.

Barbara, a Maldonian, was Maid of Honour at the 1963 carnival. Later, she and her husband worked in childcare and recalls being residential social workers in various childrens’ Homes, but especially the Gables in Maldon High Street when it was a boys’ Home. It is now a restaurant!

Charlotte was a student in the winter of 1971/2 and lived on the barge Guinevere moored on the Hythe. She helped with the archeological dig of the site which is now Barclays Bank in the High Street (closed in 2022). Previously it was Tesco.

Both describe their Maldon childhoods, enjoying the carnivals, swimming in the Marine Lake and much more. Kevin has fond memories of his home in Gate Street; his Dad was a fireman. Helen’s Dad was a teacher at Maldon Secondary School.

John is the semi-retired owner of H.E.Hill & Son, the furnishing store in Heybridge, where he has been working all his life. The business was started by his grandfather in 1934. John has also been very involved with local cricket teams and once captained a Sunday team where Alistair Cook was playing.

June was interviewed together with her sister-in-law Ann Matthams and Ann’s husband Trevor. They all recall memories of Heybridge when it was a village, with only 3 street lights, no telephones and deliveries of milk, bread and greengroceries. The ‘Towers’ Bentall home and grounds, also the Heybridge Swifts football team original pitch are also remembered.

During a happy Maldon childhood, David enjoyed sports and loved the old barges. He is a well-known local musician and has played with famous bands. He is also a writer, having written several plays about Maldon and a book “The Maldonians”.

Phil was born in Maldon and was an apprentice Joiner in Heybridge Basin where he worked on Saturdays in the Eel business. His love of rural pursuits, working with his dogs at Shoots, vermin control and wild-fowling took up all of his spare time, and he continues to participate nowadays whenever possible.

Anne came to Maldon in 1957 as a newly-qualified teacher. She taught Maths and PE at the Girls’ Secondary School. Anne describes the two separate Girls and Boys schools, which later combined to become Maldon Secondary. This amalgamated with the Grammar school in !970 to become the Plume School, where Anne was appointed Head of the Lower school.

Jean describes her own employment in Maldon over many years and gives insights into how employment in the town changed over time, and details in particular her time working at the Labour Exchange/Job Centre.

Marie married into the Keeble family 56 years ago. Here, she and her son Carl, tell the story of the history of the family, including involvement with barges, and their home, Wintersleet Farm in Maldon. They recount some of the huge farming changes and challenges the family had to cope with, but also their successes.

Linda was a receptionist at the Blue Boar Hotel in the 1960s. She started at the age of 16. The hotel was one of the Trust House Fortes group and very smart. She has good memories of a diverse group of staff and happy working conditions. Beer was 11p a pint; chicken curry, an unusual dish, was on the menu; and a boar’s head was on the table at Christmas, dyed blue.

From the late 1930s onwards, Alfred remembers Spital Farm and surrounding fields, Maldon East and West stations, the Embassy cinema and the High Street. In later years, he commuted to London daily, was a well-known member of the Maldon Drama Group and the Maldon Society. He remembers the building of the Maldon by-pass.

John, a conservation architect, first visited Maldon in 1986. He mentions Market Hill, the Hythe, St Mary’s and the High Street which seemed somewhat depressed. He was responsible for a specification for the re-shingling of All Saints Tower, which he had to climb inside.

David is a farmer, living and working at Elms Farm, Woodham Mortimer all his life. His parents and grandparents were in agriculture. He recalls his early days on the farm, also the changes in farming methods and machinery over the years. He has recently written a book about his life.

Sheena remembers her grandfather in Wivenhoe who had a sad childhood, being sent to an orphanage in Bristol at the age of 3. Sheena discovered that his grandmother, Sarah, born in 1840, had run a shop in Maldon High Street. She used to hide sweets under her long black skirt for the children to find.

Richard grew up in Maldon. He recalls his youthful activities: football, collecting empty bottles for money, playing at Beeleigh and on the railway lines, swimming in the Prom lake and working in the “Valley” for Peter Williams. He also remembers the Embassy cinema, Beeleigh Point-to-Point, catching Dabs and Maldon Carnivals. Later he worked at Sadds.

Having retired as a Social Worker, Charlie moved to Maldon and became involved in many activities: the Plume Library, train driving in Witham, NSPCC Inspector, the Citizen’s Advice Bureau, the Museum in the Park, Meals on Wheels and the U3A.

Molly’s skill was quickly recognised when she joined the ladies working on the Maldon Millennium Embroidery and she was asked to join the ‘Thursday Ladies’. She recalls which motifs she worked on and how she did it. She enjoyed helping with tours for children of the completed embroidery and she remembers Lee Cash with affection and respect.

Having lived in Market Hill as a child, Margarett has a remarkable memory of her young days in Maldon, including details of her parents’ shop, war time and the local ‘secret’ resistance group, local characters and much more. She reflects on her upbringing and how she was shaped and influenced by the small community around her. She was awarded her MBE for being Head of the British Overseas School in Pakistan where she lived for many years with her husband. Her wealth of memories is fascinating to listen to.

As a boy and young man, Derek lived next to Bradwell Airfield. His boyhood memories include watching the British and American planes and meeting Douglas Bader. Later, he was an agricultural worker and a long-serving member of the Observer Corps. He talks about various shops in Maldon High Street, also ploughing most of the fields around Maldon which are now completely built over.

Sholto and his wife, Elspeth, have lived in Danbury, Woodham Mortimer and now Maldon; always in old historic houses. He has been fund-raising for the Poppy Appeal and Farleigh Hospice for very many years. A relative of his from over 150 years ago was responsible for the creation of the Victoria Cross. Sholto talks about Maldon’s only Victoria Cross recipient, Fred Corbett, and his story.

Wendy, a very skilled embroiderer, talks about the initial setting up of the Battle of Maldon Millennium celebrations, which included the creation of the Embroidery. She recalls all the motifs that she worked on, some of which were quite challenging. Wendy was responsible for the supervision of the finished Embroidery in the Moot Hall in 1991 and did tours and talks about it.

Carol recalls her early life living with her grandmother in Queen Street. She and her siblings enjoyed swimming in the Prom Park lake and crabbing on the quay. Home life was very happy despite there being no washing machine or fridge. Apple and pea picking provided some income for her Mum and going to the cinema was very popular.

Mike describes moving with his family to Maldon, where his parents bought the well-known grocers, Collins, at the top of the High Street. He recalls details of the old premises and several incidents with his brother as they explored their surroundings. He worked in the shop for a number of years. Beeleigh Races are also described.

David is a shipwright and boat builder and has worked on numerous barges in Maldon. He was employed at Cooks Yard for many years when it was managed by Barry Pearce. David later had his own boat-building premises in Maldon and was closely involved with the Cirdon Trust, re-rigging and maintaining their vessels. He has recently just completed a book on the life of John Howard, a Maldon barge builder, 1849–1915.

Barry talks about his early life and how he was first attracted to barges. He worked on various boats and barges before coming to Maldon in 1958. He lived on a fishing boat and then a tug which he owned; he took over the lease of Cooks on the quay. He built the current large boat shed and worked, with others, on numerous vessels. He is also a very talented artist and has sold paintings.

Merle recalls her early life living on a farm in Great Totham, also war time memories including the German prisoners of war who worked on the farm and were kind to her and made her toys. She talks about certain aspects of farm life, including recycling. In later years she ran a children’s nursery. Merle also relates some stories about the High Street.

Russell was interviewed at the age of 93, when he talked about his large extended family of fishermen. He gives colourful accounts of Dagger Lane’s (lower North Street) reputation. He recalls his merchant navy career and touches on local politics. His wife Annie mentions their wedding at the then Maldon Registry Office; they were one of the last couples to be married there in 1969.

Molly was born in Heybridge Basin and recalls her youth there. She left school at 14 and went to work on the railways, based in the Goods Offices at Witham, Maldon and Colchester. Molly recalls her father being stationed on Osea Island then living in Malta. Going back to earlier years she enjoyed playing in the mud on Northey Island. She was a Church Organist for many years.

Mike’s step-father owned the Maldon built sloop the “Blackwater Cygnet”. As a boy he enjoyed sailing, going to the Marine lake and buying dabs. He remembers the Heybridge Basin Jazz Club. He recalls various aspects of the High Street and the Fisherman’s Hall on the Hythe. He worked at Bentalls before going in to the Navy.

John became interested in barges as a boy living in Shoeburyness. In 1943, age 14, he cycled, with 4 friends, to Wiltshire to help with the harvest. Being war time there were no signposts but they got there, worked for 2 weeks, then cycled back to Southend. In later years he bought his own barge, “Gippin”, fitted it out and lived on it with his family for several years on the Hythe. He also fitted out the barges “Kitty” and “Centaur”.

John has lived in Maldon all his life. For 50 years he worked as a Sailmaker, mostly in the Sail Lofts on the Quay. He describes his work in fascinating detail. He is the last Sailmaker in Maldon. A stained-glass window in All Saints Church was commissioned showing John and his colleague Roy. John also describes other work that the sailmakers were asked to do: making body bags for the police, making clothes, mending deckchairs and the Town Hall flag and making leather sails for the adventurer Tim Severin.

Charlotte was the oldest of 9 children, living in Mount Pleasant where she remembers Markham’s lemonade factory. She was responsible for the younger children when they went out and she did lots of work in the house and the shopping, so she missed much of her schooling. Feeding a large family was hard, especially when Dad couldn’t get work.

Gloria worked at Beeleigh Abbey, starting in 1978, employed by Christina Foyle who was the daughter of the previous owner, William Foyle. Gloria was a researcher of books but later became Christina’s PA. She describes the eccentricities of the household, including the many animals which contributed to the shabbiness and neglect of the Abbey.

Jean’s parents ran a café in Station Road, Maldon, which was a wooden hut to start with. She lived in a bungalow on the Causeway which was raised up to avoid the frequent local flooding. Jean has been doing the laundry at All Saint’s Church and with husband, Ken has been cleaning the brass for 70 years.

Ken spent his early years in Langford and worked for Does for 40 years. He recalls his life and events during wartime. He was Verger at All Saint’s Church for 30 years. Going back to his childhood again, Ken describes the family cottage with no running water or electricity and when the Doctor operated on him on the kitchen table.

Douglas has lived in Maldon for many years. He used to make high quality lampshades, which he sold throughout East Anglia. He is a keen sailor; he bought and restored the last Maldon Smack, the ‘Joseph T’. Douglas is also a tireless worker for the British Legion Poppy appeal.

Phyllis has lived in Heybridge and Maldon all her life. Her father was a baker and her mother part of the Simmons barging family. Phyllis recalls war time, old Heybridge with 4 different farms nearby and Maldon High Street which was so busy on Saturdays.

A Maldonian, living above a High Street sweet shop which his parents owned, Graham remembers details of the shops and local characters of the 1950s and 60s. He recalls the Maldon carnivals, the pageants, the drama groups, the 1971 Queen’s visit, gas lights and a Sunday School outing by train from Maldon East station.

Janet has lived in Heybridge for most of her life, as did her parents and grandparents. She recalls her parents’ shop in Holloway Road, working in Heybridge Laundry, going on steam train journeys and the frequent severe flooding from the Creek. She has been a long-term member of the Royal Voluntary Service.

Jean and her husband Dave have kept bees for 30 years, 25 of them in the Maldon area. She has been secretary of the Essex Bee Keeping Association, has taught bee keeping for 19 years and, together with her husband, looks after 40 bee colonies on local farms. She talks about her experience of bee keeping, honey extracting and dealing with stings! She also recalls some of the important historical influences on bee keeping in Essex.

Herbert Springett, born in Heybridge, was a well known photographer. His pictures continue to be admired today. His daughters describe their Dad, remembering his hard work, his skill and kindness, and all the family’s involvement with the finishing of the photographs.

Heather, nee Pitt, talks about her father and grandfather, the last fishermen of Maldon to make a living from their catch; how they rescued Canadian airmen in the war and what they fished for in the Blackwater. Heather remembers the cold winter of 1947, the frozen river and the Beeleigh wooden bridge being washed away after the thaw. At school in 1949 she recalls boxes of apples being sent from Maldon in Australia – a big treat!

Colin’s life has centred on boats. He lived on a boat at the age of 15 while an apprentice shipwright. He restored hundreds of mainly wooden craft; also working as crew on coasters and barges. He describes many colourful incidents and places visited. For many years his boat, the “Telegraph” was a well-known sight moored in the river alongside the Prom lake. In the later part of the interview Colin describes the last days of rail travel from Maldon to Witham.

Clare and Gillian are the daughters of the well-known local artist, Charlie Tait. He and his family lived in Fambridge Road. They describe their Dad as always painting, being rather eccentric and living in an ‘unusual’ household. His daughters didn’t really appreciate his talents until they were adults.

Clare moved into King Street with her husband and two young children in 1964, later moving to other homes in the area. She describes how she originally fell in love with Maldon and later became Chairman of the busy Townswomen’s Guild. She speaks about several different aspects of life in the Town but, most importantly, about the Queen’s visit in 1971, where she was presented to the Queen and had a good chat with her!

Many and varied memories from two shop-keepers’ children growing up on Maldon High Street, including wartime experiences. They had fun in the Prom park and at the fair and by the canal and river. They remember animals on the land that became Butts Lane car park. The role of the police when securing shop premises is described.

Ross has lived in Maldon since a boy. After assisting his father, George, in running Wheeler’s Fish & Chip shop and restaurant at the top of the High Street, he took over the shop. He describes the premises and from where they got their potatoes and fresh fish. His distant cousin, Rene Harrison aged 91, was also present for the interview and describes fond memories of her time spent in Maldon as a girl in the 1940s and 50s

As a boy, John remembers activities with his grandfather and lists the High Street shops. He was a delivery boy, taking round fresh meat on his bicycle. He is interested in steam trains and recalls Maldon’s trains, buses and vans. He worked at Ever Ready Batteries in Heybridge.

David ‘s early years were spent in Chelmsford with visits to Maldon on the bus. After a distinguished career of 38 years in the Langford Waterworks, he worked as secretary of the Maldon Constitutional Club, election agent to our M.P. and was then voted on to Maldon District Council, where he was Chairman for two years. During this time there were the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations and the para-Olympics. David has been involved with very many voluntary organisations.

Pat talks about her move to Maldon in 1979 and her involvement with the Maldon Millennium Embroidery – the pieces and motifs she worked on and her joy and gratitude at being part of the team. She knew Humphrey Spender, the designer, quite well and recalls going to supper with him.

They both describe their early days in Maldon, 70-80 years ago: Cross Road, schools, the Prom Lake, train to Maldon East, doing a paper-round. Also knowing artist Eric Hebborn, working at Sadds, volunteering at the museum and working with the Youth Training scheme. Their High Street memories include Collins the Grocer and the Embassy cinema.

Lindsey has lived in Maldon all her life. She recalls her fishing family and her Dad owning a fish shop in the High Street. Her Mum was an English teacher in local schools. Lindsey has fond memories of the week-long Carnivals and especially the fireworks.

Winifred was born and brought up in Goldhanger, where there were many ‘Appleton’ family members. She left school at 14 and went in to service. When married, she and her husband moved in to the house where she still lives. She had her 100th birthday in 2018 but was too ill to celebrate it. However, she did have a card from the Queen. She has very fond memories of Goldhanger.

Marion has lived in Maldon all her life. Her grandfather owned a barge and she worked at Hoffmans, a ball-bearing factory in Chelmsford, catching the 6.30am bus every morning. She remembers wartime and sleeping in an Anderson shelter. She and her husband lived in ‘rooms’ when first married and she recalls many of the old shops in the High Street.