Question: What do Emma Raducanu, Quentin Blake, Jacqueline Jossa, Alex Yee and Jools Holland have in common?
Answer: They all live in South East London, but NOT Welling.
Since Kate Bush and Len Goodman, Welling has had a distinct lack of celebrities, so we are setting the challenge of finding out who is the most famous person in Welling.
What is your claim to fame? Have you been on Pointless, in a TV show, been on Crimewatch (as an actor in a reconstruction, not a photofit!). We asked to hear the claims to fame of Welling residents, however tenuous. We then put all eligible nominees to a public vote – you had to currently reside in Welling to qualify, otherwise Kate Bush would have been the automatic winner!
The winner was declared Welling’s most famous resident and invited to switch on the Christmas lights on 20th November. There was no appearance fee, but we may even throw a hot chocolate and mince pie in as an extra prize as well!
We were overwhelmed by the amount of interest that our quest got and we were pleased to see the variety of claims by Welling residents. We set up the competition for a bit of fun and we hope you enjoyed reading the nominations and voting.
Through this process, we found that we do actually have more famous past and present residents than we thought and we will at some stage put together some more pages on our website to show stories of different residents or people who went to school or worked in Welling. We have professional sports people, Olympic medal winning coaches, authors, actors, footballers, politicians, directors – the list goes on.
There were a grand total of 50 nominees to this competition. You can read about their claims to fame below, but voting has now closed.
Sharon Laurance
Nominated by:
Lauren Bruce
Sharon Laurence
Sharon’s claims to fame include:
- Supermarket sweep
- held up a red tomato in Ready Steady Cook
- Appeared on an advert for X Factor
- Behind the goal at Arsenal v Leeds in the late 70s
A lifetime Welling resident, Matthew Marsh is a professional boxer who started his career as ABA and is the only person to have ever won it twice. He has also boxed for England in the Commonwealth Games. He has also been a British Champion at the Super bantamweight level in 2008/2009
He now runs a boxing gym at his house in Welling and is a local face to many up and coming boxers in the area. He also does charity work and helps out with the local school
Danny Howard lost his right eye at East Wickham school in Welling at the age of 7 years old. He has taken his loss of his right eye and put his look and skills to TV and Film.
From there he has appeared in many Feature films, one which he is filming at the minute called Witch where he plays 2nd Lead Guard Tuck which is out in 2022. Also appeared in many TV programmes including The Bill, Eastenders, Holby City and reconstruction programmes.
Danny and his family have appeared in an advert for Haven holidays. Danny also has a picture up in Frankie and Bennies Restaurant chain too.
Barry French
Nominated by:
Barry French
Barry is very well known in the local area on social media.
Sergio’s claim to fame is that he has appeared in an episode of The Repair Shop. The episode was broadcast on East Monday and features his grandparent’s antique coffee grinder that was carefully restored by Dom
Kaitlyn Boxall is a local film director that made an independent film called ‘Behind Closed Doors’ to help victims throughout the Covid19 lockdown and with support from the local community, they raised £30,000 for Women’s Aid.
She has appeared in every local newspaper as well as magazines across the pond including America, Mexico and the Philippines.
She says it has been weird to walk down Welling streets and be recognised as an up and coming Film director within the local community.
Born and bred in Welling, Paul has a long list of claims to fame, including:
- bully’s assistant in Grange Hill
- In the Groovy Gang in Only Fools and Horses
- On Noel’s House Party for 3 years and played My Blobby twice
- CID officer in The Bill with Tosh Lines
- In Darude – a big dance act in 2001/2002
Lawrence Grix was one of the original cast in BBCs The Sheriffs are Coming and one of the most popular cast members.
He is very modest of his appearance on the show, but would be a worthy winner and he is also a valued member of the local community.
Robert Hayes-Scott has been amateur British boxing champion five times and has boxed for his country three times – once Golden Gloves champ and once captaining England against the USA in 1991.
He was a top 10 British pro boxer back in 2001.
He also has various TV and film credits including:
- A BBC 2 documentary about himself called The Lady & the Champ
- The Calcium Kid with Orlando Bloom in 2004
- Man ‘O’ Man with Chris Tarrant
- Public broadcasting advert
- Black Books with Bill Bailey
- The Bill
- Eastenders
- Goodnight Sweetheart
- Gimme Gimme
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Andy has represented the UK at 3 electrix skateboarding World cups. At the last one pre covid, which was in California, he won the ‘most spectacular crash’!
He broke 4 ribs in a crash at the UK open race
…and a local crash in Danson Park
He has also appeared in the Gadget Show
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Harley was the Huggies baby in 2002
Rob Crashaw
Nominated by:
Rob Crashaw
Rob’s claim to fame is coming fourth in an egg and spoon race
David Donovan
Nominated by:
David Donovan
David’s claim to fame is appearing on Eggheads and a cameo appearance on The Apprentice.
Bev Reilly
Nominated by:
Bev Reilly
Bev’s claim to fame is appearing on Sky News after Gary Barlow sang at her friends wedding.
Debbie McKey's son
Nominated by:
Debbie McKey
Debbie’s son was in the Queen’s Nose, McDonalds adverts and other things.
Pauline Hanson
Nominated by:
Pauline Hanson
Pauline’s claim to fame is appearing on the Yorkshire News walking up 199 steps in Whitby for her cousin’s wedding as one of the bridesmaids.
Jade French
Nominated by:
Jade French
Jade was the face of the never shake a baby campaign and the posters were on all of the buses.
Sarah Amelia Grace
Nominated by:
Sarah amelia Grace
Sarah’s claim to fame is having a few snogs with Lee Ryan from Blue when he was at Welling School
Scotty Dick Thomas
Nominated by:
Andrew Thomas
Scotty was the face of Buxton spring water.
Iris Kealey
Nominated by:
Iris Kealey
Iris’ claim to fame is meeting the 11th Duke of Richmond/Lord March (Charles Gordon-Lennox)
Sukie De Bowyer
Nominated by:
Sukie De Bowyer
Sukie’s claim to fame is going out with Bruno Brooks and Mike Reed when she worked at Butlins
Allison Jayne
Nominated by:
Allison Jayne
Sharon Johnson Massey
Lin Storton
Allison’s claim to fame was being an extra in a film with Michael Caine and the first woman EVER to broadcast live commentary on a football match with Sky Sports Fanzone for the FA Cup quarter final in 2001.
She also started up the well loved local facebook group Did you grow up in Welling.
Archie is currently ranked number 2 in the WBO Super Featherweight rankings.
Clive Orpwood
Nominated by:
Clive Orpwood
Clive’s claim to fame is being in a Persil advert, which was filmed in 1974 at Elsa Road school.
Christine Reynolds
Nominated by:
Christine Reynolds
Christine’s claim to fame is being invited to Buckingham Palace after making a decoration for The Queen’s Christmas tree.
Twiggy the Lollipop Lady
Nominated by:
Kim Stammers Porter
Carol Bouziane
Robert Payne
Sally Golledge Herbert
Linda Vanstone
Twiggy was a star to the kids at Welling school with the sweets in her pockets every day.
Theresa Massey
Nominated by:
Colby Massey
Theresa’s claim to fame is holding the Guinness World record for most Marathons completed by twins with her sister.
Ivan Howser
Nominated by:
Ivan Howser
Julie Howser
Ivan’s claim to fame is carrying a washing machine past the kitchen window on DIY SOS.
Simeon Day
Nominated by:
Simeon Day
Simeon’s claims to fame include:
- a Deatheater in Harry Potter 8 with Ralph Fiennes
- appearing in a rugby commercial
- An extra in Sherlock Holmes 2
Andy’s claim to fame is doing a TV series in USA called Treasure Detectives.
Deena Gilham
Nominated by:
Deena Gilham
Deena’s claim to fame is that she will soon be appearing on Bling, a new programme with Gok Wan.
School Choirs
Nominated by:
Sarah Miah
Dorothy Walker
Sarah’s son and Dorothy’s great granddaughter will be singing with their school choir at the young voices concert at the O2 in January 2022/
Sarah Miah
Nominated by:
Sarah Miah
Sarah’s claim to fame is being on the front page of the Evening Standard as a nurse trying to get to work during a tube strike. She was also mentioned during Parliamentary discussions on this subject.
Belinda Hawkes Axton
Nominated by:
Belinda Hawkes Axton
Belinda’s claim to fame is being in a holiday advert for Pontins in the 70s.
Mark Cutts
Nominated by:
Mark Cutts
Mark’s claim to fame was being in the film Green Street 2005 and he was in the Milwall gang.
Dan Farry
Nominated by:
Dan Farry
Dan’s claim to fame is that Chris Evans sat on his knee once.
Liz Scott
Nominated by:
Liz Scott
Liz’s claim to fame is that she was on 15 to 1 and also won on the quiz show Pass the Buck in 1999.
Richard Blood
Nominated by:
Richard Blood
Richard’s claim to fame is that his company did four episodes of BBC1’s The Life of Grime a few years ago.
Eve Louisa Davis
Nominated by:
Eve Louisa Davis
Eve’s claim to fame is being an extra in The Bill in 1992.
Janice Gittins
Nominated by:
Janice Gittins
Janice’s claim to fame is being in the audience of Top of the Pops in 1981.
Hannah Wootten
Nominated by:
Hannah Wootten
Hannah’s claim to fame is that she was on the front page of the Canberra times in Australia.
Samantha Pollard
Nominated by:
Samantha Pollard
Samantha’s claim to fame is being on the Richard and Judy show demonstrating CPR…badly!
Christine Kelly
Nominated by:
Christine Kelly
Christine’s claim to fame is appearing on Supermarket Sweep and she still has the sweatshirt.
Katy Shubotham
Nominated by:
Katy Shubotham
Katy’s claim to fame is appearing on a billboard in Times Square when she was 20.
Chris Bland
Nominated by:
Chris Bland
Chris’ claims to fame include:
- Being on TV for a year as part of Sky’s 20 year anniversary Simpson’s advert
- Wrote a self-help pamphlet which the produces of Top Gear used
- Worked for the CIC film production company and regularly visited Elstree Studios to arrange film showings for stars such as Steven Spielberg and Jim Henson.
Suzanne Umney
Nominated by:
Suzanne Umney
Suzanne’s claim to fame is that she was in the audience of Top of the Pops in 1983.
Mary Wallis
Nominated by:
Mary Wallis
Mary’s claims to fame are:
- coming 2nd in Search For a Star on BBC Radio Kent by tap dancing on a cupboard door
- Tap danced in a Roy Castle lesson with Frank Bruno
- Branch leader of the Alvin Stardust fan club
- On the news being interviewed at Charlton Athletic as one of the first fans being allowed back to football after Covid 19
Katie Spicer
Nominated by:
Katie Spicer
Katie’s claims to fame are that she has been on the Gemma Collins show and was also on TOWIE.
Gillian Fitnum
Nominated by:
Gillian Fitnum
Gillian was in the Pandemonium section (Industrial Revolution) of the London 2012 Olympic Games opening ceremony. The sights, sounds, camaraderie and sheer hard work contributed to an unforgettable and unique experience which she will always treasure and be proud of.
With a smile, she is also reminded of her much missed Mum, who delighted in telling anyone her daughter was IN the Olympics!
