Create London in partnership with Barking and Dagenham Council unveiled special celebratory plaques across the 100-year-old Becontree Estate on Thursday 7 October. 

Funded by the council, Create London commissioned artist Leonor Antunes to design and produce these commemorative plaques, as part of the council’s Becontree Forever programme celebrating the estate’s centenary. The plaques celebrate famous former residents from Becontree’s history as well as the important contribution of current residents to be sited on houses and public buildings across the estate.

Those that were nominated for a plaque all deserve the praise and adulation that they were given. Whether it was for their outstanding contribution to their craft or in some cases, their incredible contribution to the local community

Six plaques were unveiled following a significant period of research and a rigorous resident-led nomination process, which will be followed by a further 11 plaques to be installed for this centenary year.

These former and current Becontree Estate residents were nominated to have a plaque in their honour:

• Sir Hardy Amies (Installed on The White House, Dagenham) – for his exceptional work in the fashion industry and most notably, being dressmaker to Queen Elizabeth II.
• Sir Alf Ramsey (Installed on the Chestnut Nursery School – site of his former home) – for his contribution to professional English football and most notably, for being England manager during the 1966 World Cup campaign.
• Trevor and Doreen Lock (installed on their home) – for their contribution to the local community and most notably, for their long service with the Independent Living Agency and Trevor’s heroic actions, during his time as a police officer.
• Pat and Jack Lock (installed on the Julia Engwell Health Centre – which they frequented with their foster children) – for their contribution to fostering in the borough over many years.
• Zara McFarlane and Diversity (installed on Sydney Russell School) – former pupils of the school, Jazz singer/songwriter Zara and Diversity (Sam and Mitchell Craske attended the school), were awarded their plaque for their contribution to the arts.

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Community Leadership and Engagement, Cllr Saima Ashraf said: “This is such a wonderful way to celebrate former and existing residents of the Becontree Estate. I know that we have exceptional people who come from the borough and this project certainly highlights that.

“Those that were nominated for a plaque all deserve the praise and adulation that they were given. Whether it was for their outstanding contribution to their craft or in some cases, their incredible contribution to the local community.”