Member Publications

Basildon Heritage Authors

David Bourner

Biography

I was born in Basildon in 1962 and grew up in the Ghyllgrove neighbourhood before moving to Laindon in 1971. As a schoolboy, I worked at a newsagent in the Laindon Shopping Centre for about 4 years, and, in 1978, at the age of 16, I joined J Sainsbury in the Town Square as a part-time student for two years before taking a full-time job in London where I worked, for around 40 years, as an IT Project Manager.
 
In 1983, I moved to Pitsea for a few years before returning to Laindon . After retiring in November 2018, I joined the Basildon Borough Heritage Society and have been researching local history as part of my volunteering role there. I have published various facebook articles and, more recently, have written two books; The Rise and Fall of Laindon High Road, and How Basildon Was Built. 

 

Link to Shop

Ken Porter

Biography

Kenneth (Ken) Frederick Porter was Born in Laindon in 1944. The family moved to Langdon Hills following compulsory purchase in 1963. He has lived there ever since other than a five-year spell living in Southminster when he married Carol in 1965.


Ken went to two local schools, first Markham’s Chase (now Janet Duke), and then Laindon High Road School (now demolished). On leaving school he managed to get a job with Ford Motor Company in Dagenham and his short spell there convinced him that he would have to get a qualification, so after several years of study he qualified as an accountant, retiring as Company Secretary and Finance Director of a small Public Company.


Ken's main passion was playing and coaching cricket (Advance/Level 3 coach). Since retiring, local history
has taken up his time and he is a co-founder of The Basildon Borough Heritage society and The Laindon District Community Archive.

 

He thanks Carol for all her support over the years. They have three children: Craig married to Debbie and living in Langdon Hills with children Kayleigh, Kryan, and Callum, Kevin married to Angela living in the French Alps with one son Archie and Joanne married to Mathew with daughters Anna and Lucy also living in the French Alps.

Link to Shop