For this week’s “BYGONES” feature, Margaret Mills looked back at the life and works of a Lady Olivia Sparrow.

Although Irish by birth, during the mid 1800’s, Lady Olivia Sparrow,  became deeply involved in improving the lives of the residents of Leigh-on-Sea and Hadleigh, by among other things, establishing a church run day school for poorer children, arranging for a well to be dug to supply clean drinking water.

It seems, however she is not well commemorated locally, possibly due to her falling out with the local vicar and subsequently refusing to attend the church where said vicar was preaching!

Anyway if you missed what Margaret said, you can catch it all again here: –

I very much hope to have your company again next week, and in the meantime wish you a very happy, prosperous and most of all, healthy 2025,
Scott