Eileen Elizabeth Sheridan (1936–2018) was a British beauty pageant contestant who was also known for her association with the

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

underworld 'firm' headed by the

Kray twins Ronald Kray (24 October 193317 March 1995) and Reginald Kray (24 October 19331 October 2000) were identical twin brothers, gangsters and convicted criminals. They were the foremost perpetrators of organised crime in the East End of London, Engl ...

; notably attending the funeral of their elder brother, Charlie, in 2000. And also attended the funerals of Ron and Reg Kray. Eileen was a character witness at Charlie Krays' drug trail, and provided the famous "Legend" wreath at Reg Krays funeral. Miss Sheridan became friends with the Krays after becoming the first winner of the

Miss United Kingdom Miss United Kingdom is a title held by the highest-ranked contestant from the UK in the Miss World pageant. The winner sometimes competes at Miss International the following year under the ''Britain'' or ''United Kingdom'' banner. From 1958 ...

title in 1958. Her future husband persuaded her to enter the new Miss UK competition in

Blackpool Blackpool is a seaside resort in Lancashire, England. Located on the North West England, northwest coast of England, it is the main settlement within the Borough of Blackpool, borough also called Blackpool. The town is by the Irish Sea, betw ...

. And she was placed in final six of 1958 Miss World Contest, held at the Lyceum.

Early career

Born in 1936 in Surrey, as Eileen Elizabeth Wheeler, the teenage Eileen was interested in athletics and horse riding. Upon leaving school, she was spotted working in a department store by a photographer who persuaded her to sign up with the

Cherry Marshall Cherry Marshall (25 July 1923 – 28 January 2006) was an English fashion model and agent, and non-fiction writer. She was married to the poet Emanuel Litvinoff. Early life Marshall was born Irene Maud Pearson on 25 July 1923, at Girlsta Cottag ...

model agency in

Mayfair Mayfair is an affluent area in the West End of London towards the eastern edge of Hyde Park, in the City of Westminster, between Oxford Street, Regent Street, Piccadilly and Park Lane. It is one of the most expensive districts in the world. ...

. Miss Sheridan married a former bookmaker two years after winning her Miss UK title, becoming Eileen Sheridan-Price, after completing the double by winning Miss Great Britain, in 1960 at Morecambe. Eileen enjoyed running and was a regular at many athletic events in the south east.

Life after the pageant

Sheridan spent ten years performing in old-time musicals as a male impersonator. She met her husband when she was 14 and was married to Ken Price until his death in 2005. Eileen died on 31 August 2018 and is buried with her husband Ken in Molesey Cemetery, Surrey

References

Miss United Kingdom winners Miss World 1958 delegates 2018 deaths 1936 births {{UK-model-stub