In 2019 Basildon in Essex celebrated its 70th anniversary and Geraldine was one of the named Basildon Heroes, and she is the lady I will be introducing on Monday to an audience at Vange Library in Basildon. Of all the people I have interviewed in research of my two books she has been one of the best storytellers to date. Up there with Tom King former Chief Features Writer for Echo Newspapers and Vin Harrop, Arts Champion and of course Kenneth Porter, author and Chairman of Basildon Heritage in the Green Centre at Wat Tyler.
This is what they said about Geraldine on the council website about Basildon at 70: -
"In her role as a publican, Geraldine was a real community leader. She ran a successful local business for over 50 years and raised countless £1,000's for local charities - including the Vange Village Fayre that was run in conjunction with St Chads Church."
In her retirement Geraldine has done talks at various places, Women's Institute's and U3A's for example and now she will be talking about her Life Behind Bars in the library from 1pm. To elaborate, she worked with her father running The Barge Inn then ran it herself with her husband then her son and daughter. Later she became a Justice of the Peace in Billericay and Basildon.
Hope to see you there!
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