Lisa Horner Writer & Artist

Do you need to know something about Laindon or Langdon Hills history?  Well, Ken's your man.  Some describe him as the font of all knowledge of the area and some say, "Oh yeah!  Ken's a real character".   I'm certainly pleased to have been pointed in his direction when I was approached by Amberley Publishing to do Basildon Through Time , they told me to contact Ken and with the other volunteers of Basildon Borough Heritage Group , including Jo Cullen and at that time, Denise Rowling, I was in good hands and was given great direction towards creating my first local history book. Recently, Ken has produced three books, he's always got a book on the go.  We talked about his books,  Basildon's Famous People Volume Two, Poems and a Brief History of Laindon & Surrounding District, and Joan Rosaire, Lady of the Circus. He is the Chairman and Treasurer of the Basildon Borough Heritage Group and also helps run the Laindon & District Community Archi...

I visited The Sustainability Store in Summerhills off Pipps Hill Road, Basildon.  I'll admit my only purchase was a pack of 'Moonie' Reusable Cotton Pads, 7 in a pack and made of biodegradable brushed cotton, so much better than using the alternative cotton wool throw-away pads.  But I will go back to  The Sustainability Store  with my empty washing-up liquid bottle and washing detergent and conditioner bottles. I'll probably alternate going here with  Nic Eco Before I planned to talk to Rachel and Cherry from Eco Colnes   &   Halstead I actually thought that we were doing all we could to be sustainable, how wrong was I!  On the plus side we never buy fruit in plastic bags, we either put the fruit loose or in paper bags.  But we were kidding ourselves as there is so much more we can do still.  I had the idea that rather than buy cheese in plastic from the shelves you could get it from the delicatessen and bring your own cont...

The tables were truly turned today as I have been twice interviewed by Tony Stratton on Basildon Hospital Radio, once on his own programme and the other he does with Jeremy Suffolk, all to do with my local history books. They've certainly been talking to some top celebrities on their show, two members of Slade, Annette Andre, Miriam Margoyles, who of course is often on our screens today with her cheeky humour.  Also, Britt Eckland, Jess Conrad and Michelle Monroe, daughter of Matt Monroe, to name a few. BHR 87.7 (Basildon Hospital Radio), which was made an FM radio station in the first lockdown, has been voted the second most  listened to hospital radio in the country. This book was written by the Basildon Writers' and Jacqui James, the chair of Basildon Hospital Radio.  All proceeds go to Basildon Hospital Radio -  It happened in Essex:Tall tales from the Basildon Writers'   I hasten to add I bought it and it was a really good read! https://www.lisajhorner.com...