Sidcup is an area of south-east
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 ...
, England, primarily in the
London Borough of Bexley
The London Borough of Bexley () is a London boroughs, London borough in south-east London, forming part of Outer London. It has a population of 248,287. The main settlements are Sidcup, Erith, Bexleyheath, Crayford, Welling and Old Bexley. The ...
. It is south-east of
Charing Cross
Charing Cross ( ) is a junction in Westminster, London, England, where six routes meet. Clockwise from north these are: the east side of Trafalgar Square leading to St Martin's Place and then Charing Cross Road; the Strand leading to the City; ...
, bordering the London Boroughs of
Bromley
Bromley is a large town in Greater London, England, within the London Borough of Bromley. It is south-east of Charing Cross, and had an estimated population of 87,889 as of 2011.
Originally part of Kent, Bromley became a market town, char ...
and
Greenwich. Before the creation of
Greater London
Greater may refer to:
*Greatness, the state of being great
*Greater than, in inequality (mathematics), inequality
*Greater (film), ''Greater'' (film), a 2016 American film
*Greater (flamingo), the oldest flamingo on record
*Greater (song), "Greate ...
in 1965, it was in the
historical county of
Kent
Kent is a county in South East England and one of the home counties. It borders Greater London to the north-west, Surrey to the west and East Sussex to the south-west, and Essex to the north across the estuary of the River Thames; it faces ...
.
The name is thought to be derived from meaning "seat shaped or flat topped hill"; it had its earliest recorded use in 1254. The population of Sidcup, including its neighbourhoods
Foots Cray,
North Cray
North Cray is a village in south-east London, England, within the London Borough of Bexley. It is south-east of Charing Cross.
It lies on the River Cray, east of Sidcup and south of Bexley, and is in the Cray Meadows electoral ward, which als ...
,
Albany Park,
Longlands,
Ruxley,
Blackfen and
Lamorbey, was 43,109 in 2011.
History
Origins
Sidcup originated as a tiny hamlet on the road from
Maidstone to London. According to
Edward Hasted
Edward Hasted (20 December 1732 OS (31 December 1732 NS) – 14 January 1812) was an English antiquarian and pioneering historian of his ancestral home county of Kent. As such, he was the author of a major county history, ''The History and To ...
, "Thomas de Sedcopp was owner of this estate in the 35th year of king
Henry VI. .e. in the 1450sas appears by his deed." Hasted described Sidcup in the latter part of the 18th century as "a small street of houses, among which is an inn of much resort", referring to the former Black Horse pub on the high street.
Sidcup parish formed the Sidcup Urban District of Kent from 1908. It was initially known as Foots Cray; however, in 1921 the urban district, and in 1925 the parish, were renamed Sidcup. The parish and district were abolished in 1934 and combined with
Chislehurst
Chislehurst () is a suburban district of south-east London, England, in the London Borough of Bromley. It lies east of Bromley, south-west of Sidcup and north-west of Orpington, south-east of Charing Cross. Before the creation of Greater L ...
to form the
Chislehurst and Sidcup civil parish and urban district. In 1965 the parish and urban district were abolished. Sidcup went on to form part of the London Borough of Bexley in Greater London and Chislehurst formed part of the
London Borough of Bromley
The London Borough of Bromley () is the southeasternmost of the London boroughs that make up Greater London, bordering the ceremonial county of Kent, which most of Bromley was part of before 1965. The borough's population is an estimated 332,336 ...
.
Recent
A number of manor houses, converted to other uses, remain. They include
Frognal House, the birthplace and residence of
Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney
Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney (24 February 1733 – 30 June 1800) was a British politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1754 to 1783 when he was raised to the peerage as Baron Sydney. He held several important Cabinet posts in t ...
, converted for use as residential and nursing accommodation;
Lamorbey House, now used by
Rose Bruford College; Sidcup Place, a bar and restaurant; and The Hollies, converted for residential use.
Area
Sidcup borders
Blackfen to the north,
Albany Park to the northeast and east,
Foots Cray to the south-east,
Chislehurst
Chislehurst () is a suburban district of south-east London, England, in the London Borough of Bromley. It lies east of Bromley, south-west of Sidcup and north-west of Orpington, south-east of Charing Cross. Before the creation of Greater L ...
to the south and south-west,
New Eltham to the west and
Avery Hill to the north-west.
Sidcup has a mixture of large Victorian and Edwardian properties alongside typical 1930s suburbia. It retains many parks and open spaces hinting at the great estates and large homes which once stood in the area.
The town contains
Queen Mary's Hospital, a large Leisure Centre, four colleges and three secondary schools. Sidcup High Street is the main retail and commercial street, and there are some other shops and local businesses on the adjacent Station Road. In 2014, Sidcup High Street was the subject of a £1.8 million regeneration scheme In Store For Sidcup paid for by London Borough of Bexley.
Most of the district is within the London Borough of Bexley, however, several parts in the North are under the governance of the
Royal Borough of Greenwich, including Southspring, Greenhithe Close, Halfway Street (offsite Avery Hill), Radfield Way, Croyde Close and Overmead.
Geography
Sidcup lies south-west of
Bexleyheath
Bexleyheath is a town in south-east London, England. It had a population of 31,929 as at 2011.
Bexleyheath is located south-east of Charing Cross, and forms part of the London Borough of Bexley. It is identified in the London Plan as one of ...
; north-east of
Bromley
Bromley is a large town in Greater London, England, within the London Borough of Bromley. It is south-east of Charing Cross, and had an estimated population of 87,889 as of 2011.
Originally part of Kent, Bromley became a market town, char ...
; north of
Orpington
Orpington is a town and area in south east London, England, within the London Borough of Bromley. It is 13.4 miles (21.6 km) south east of Charing Cross.
On the south-eastern edge of the Greater London Built-up Area, it is south of St Ma ...
; north-west of
Swanley.
Demographics

In 2011 The total population was recorded as 10,844. Many residents are aged 65+ or 85+, in line with the whole of London Borough of Bexley. At the census of 2011, the non-white population of Sidcup was recorded at 10.1%; the largest minority group were Asian or Asian British (5.4% of the total population), with White Other totalling 4.8% of the total population. The number of single parent families was higher in the district in comparison to the rest of the London Borough of Bexley. 63.8% reported Christianity as their religious beliefs which was above the borough average. However, these figures do not include the Blackfen and Lamorbey wards within the district.
Education
Primary schools in Sidcup include: Birkbeck, Burnt Oak Junior School, Chatsworth, Days Lane, Holy Trinity Lamorbey, Longlands, Orchard School, Our Lady of the Rosary, Royal Park, Sherwood Park, and St Peter Chanel.
Secondary schools in Sidcup include
Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School
Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School is a mixed-sex grammar school with academy status located in Hurst Road ( A222), Sidcup in the London Borough of Bexley, England. It is located adjacent to Lamorbey Park, the Rose Bruford College drama sc ...
,
Blackfen,
Cleeve Park,
Hurstmere and
Kemnal Technology College
Kemnal Technology College is a boys and girls secondary school located in St Paul's Cray, London, England.
History
The school was first established in 1954 in the former buildings of Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School as Cray Valley Technic ...
.
Bird College
Bird College – Conservatoire for Dance and Musical Theatre is an independent performing arts school and college, located in Sidcup, South East London, in the London Borough of Bexley.
The college was founded as a dance school by Doreen Bird i ...
,
Christ the King: St Mary's (RC) Sixth Form College, and
Rose Bruford College all have sites in Sidcup.
Sport and leisure
Sidcup has a
Non-League football
Non-League football describes football leagues played outside the top leagues of a country. Usually, it describes leagues which are not fully professional. The term is primarily used for football in England, where it is specifically used to de ...
club
Sporting Club Thamesmead F.C.
Sporting Club Thamesmead F.C. is an English football club located in Thamesmead in the London Borough of Bexley. The club is affiliated to the Kent Football Association. The first team plays in the and the reserves play in the NRG Gyms Kent Co ...
who play at the Sporting Club Thamesmead. On Sydney Road, there is a Sidcup Sports Club, housing the local rugby and cricket clubs.
Sidcup also has a
Leisure Centre
A leisure centre in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia (also called aquatic centres), Singapore and Canada is a purpose-built building or site, usually owned and operated by the city, borough council or municipal district council, where people ...
on Hurst Road with 2 pools and a gym.
The Sidcup and District Motor Cycle Club was formed at the Station Hotel, Sidcup in 1928. The club owns the Canada Heights motorcycle sport venue in Button Street,
Swanley.
Culture, identity and community

Sidcup is home to the
Rose Bruford College of drama and
Bird College
Bird College – Conservatoire for Dance and Musical Theatre is an independent performing arts school and college, located in Sidcup, South East London, in the London Borough of Bexley.
The college was founded as a dance school by Doreen Bird i ...
, both of which have several famous alumni, and the Sidcup Symphony Orchestra,
which also serves the wider South East London area. In an interview with
Lake Bell (who studied at Rose Bruford College) in 2015, comedian
James Corden
James Kimberley Corden (born 22 August 1978) is an English television host, actor, comedian, and singer. In the United Kingdom, he is best known for co-writing and starring in the critically acclaimed BBC sitcom ''Gavin & Stacey''. In the Un ...
described Sidcup as "the armpit of England" on his late night American chat show ''
The Late Late Show with James Corden
''The Late Late Show with James Corden'' (also known as ''Late Late'') is an American late-night talk show on CBS. It is the fourth and current iteration of '' The Late Late Show''. Airing in the U.S. from Monday to Friday nights at 12:37:28am ...
''.
The murder of teenager
Rob Knox
Robert Arthur Knox (21 August 1989 – 24 May 2008) was an English actor who portrayed the character of Marcus Belby in the film ''Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince'', and had signed to appear in the film '' Harry Potter and the Deathly Ha ...
at the Metro Bar on Station Road in 2008 was national headline news. Knox was an aspiring actor who had, just before his death, filmed a small part in ''
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince''. He was killed protecting his brother from a group of youths. His murderer, Karl Bishop, also from Sidcup, was later found guilty of murder and sentenced. Following Knox's death, his family have campaigned to end
knife crime
Knife legislation is defined as the legislation, body of statutory law or case law promulgated or enacted by a government or other governing jurisdiction that prohibits, criminalizes, or restricts the otherwise legal manufacture, importation, sale, ...
among young people. The Rob Knox Foundation has organised a Rob Knox Film Festival in Sidcup and the neighbouring town of
Bexleyheath
Bexleyheath is a town in south-east London, England. It had a population of 31,929 as at 2011.
Bexleyheath is located south-east of Charing Cross, and forms part of the London Borough of Bexley. It is identified in the London Plan as one of ...
, and a bench was dedicated to Knox at St John's Church in Sidcup in 2015.
Transport
National Rail
Sidcup railway station
Sidcup railway station serves Sidcup, south-east London, within the London Borough of Bexley. It is down the line from .
It is in Travelcard Zone 5, and the station is managed by Southeastern.
History
Sidcup station opened on 1 September 1866 ...
opened in October 1866, a month after the opening of the Dartford Loop Line on 1 September 1866. It is 1 mile (1.6 km) north of Sidcup town centre. The station provides the area with
Southeastern
The points of the compass are a set of horizontal, radially arrayed compass directions (or azimuths) used in navigation and cartography. A compass rose is primarily composed of four cardinal directions—north, east, south, and west—each se ...
services to
London Charing Cross
Charing Cross railway station (also known as London Charing Cross) is a central London railway terminus between the Strand and Hungerford Bridge in the City of Westminster. It is the terminus of the South Eastern Main Line to Dover via Ashf ...
and to
Gravesend
Gravesend is a town in northwest Kent, England, situated 21 miles (35 km) east-southeast of Charing Cross (central London) on the Bank (geography), south bank of the River Thames and opposite Tilbury in Essex. Located in the diocese of Ro ...
.
Roads
Sidcup High Street is on the A211, following in length the old London – Maidstone – Hythe road. The A211 starts just after Eltham High Street, in the middle running along the A20 Sidcup By-pass before ending at Foots Cray, where the B2173 continues along the former A20 road. The A211 connects the two main roads in this district; Station Road and Main Road.
East Rochester Way on the A2 road runs partly through the district, adjoining Blackfen Road. The road provides links to the
Blackwall Tunnel and
Kent
Kent is a county in South East England and one of the home counties. It borders Greater London to the north-west, Surrey to the west and East Sussex to the south-west, and Essex to the north across the estuary of the River Thames; it faces ...
.
Buses
Sidcup is served by a number of
Transport for London bus routes, namely the 51, 160, 229, 233, 269, 286, 321, 492, 625, 669, B14 and R11. These connect Sidcup with areas including
Bexleyheath
Bexleyheath is a town in south-east London, England. It had a population of 31,929 as at 2011.
Bexleyheath is located south-east of Charing Cross, and forms part of the London Borough of Bexley. It is identified in the London Plan as one of ...
,
Bromley
Bromley is a large town in Greater London, England, within the London Borough of Bromley. It is south-east of Charing Cross, and had an estimated population of 87,889 as of 2011.
Originally part of Kent, Bromley became a market town, char ...
,
Catford
Catford is a district in south east London, England, and the administrative centre of the London Borough of Lewisham. It is southwest of Lewisham itself, mostly in the Rushey Green (ward), Rushey Green and Catford South Ward (electoral subdiv ...
,
Crayford
Crayford is a town and electoral ward in South East London, England, within the London Borough of Bexley. It lies east of Bexleyheath and north west of Dartford. Crayford was in the historic county of Kent until 1965. The settlement deve ...
,
Chislehurst
Chislehurst () is a suburban district of south-east London, England, in the London Borough of Bromley. It lies east of Bromley, south-west of Sidcup and north-west of Orpington, south-east of Charing Cross. Before the creation of Greater L ...
,
Dartford
Dartford is the principal town in the Borough of Dartford, Kent, England. It is located south-east of Central London and
is situated adjacent to the London Borough of Bexley to its west. To its north, across the Thames estuary, is Thurrock in ...
,
Eltham
Eltham ( ) is a district of southeast London, England, within the Royal Borough of Greenwich. It is east-southeast of Charing Cross, and is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London. The three wards of Elt ...
,
Greenwich,
Erith
Erith () is an area in south-east London, England, east of Charing Cross. Before the creation of Greater London in 1965, it was in the historical county of Kent. Since 1965 it has formed part of the London Borough of Bexley. It lies nort ...
,
Lewisham
Lewisham () is an area of southeast London, England, south of Charing Cross. It is the principal area of the London Borough of Lewisham, and was within the Historic counties of England, historic county of Kent until 1889. It is identified i ...
,
New Cross,
Orpington
Orpington is a town and area in south east London, England, within the London Borough of Bromley. It is 13.4 miles (21.6 km) south east of Charing Cross.
On the south-eastern edge of the Greater London Built-up Area, it is south of St Ma ...
,
Swanley,
Thamesmead
Thamesmead is an area of south-east London, England, straddling the border between the Royal Borough of Greenwich and the London Borough of Bexley. It is located east of Charing Cross, north-east of Woolwich and west of Erith. It mainly consi ...
,
Welling &
Woolwich
Woolwich () is a district in southeast London, England, within the Royal Borough of Greenwich.
The district's location on the River Thames led to its status as an important naval, military and industrial area; a role that was maintained throu ...
.
Notable residents

*
F. Matthias Alexander
Frederick Matthias Alexander (20 January 1869 – 10 October 1955) was an Australian actor and author who developed the Alexander Technique, an educational process that recognizes and overcomes reactive, habitual limitations in movement and th ...
(1869–1955), Australian actor and inventor of the
Alexander technique, lived in Penhill House, Sidcup, for 30 years
*
Harry Arter (1989–) footballer (
Bournemouth F.C.
Bournemouth Football Club is an English association football, football team currently playing in the , in the ninth tier of the English football league system. Their nickname is "The Poppies", and they are often known as Bournemouth Poppies to ...
and
Republic of Ireland
Ireland ( ga, Éire ), also known as the Republic of Ireland (), is a country in north-western Europe consisting of 26 of the 32 counties of the island of Ireland. The capital and largest city is Dublin, on the eastern side of the island. A ...
), born in Sidcup
*
Steve Backley (1969–), Olympic
javelin
A javelin is a light spear designed primarily to be thrown, historically as a ranged weapon, but today predominantly for sport. The javelin is almost always thrown by hand, unlike the sling, bow, and crossbow, which launch projectiles with th ...
silver medallist, born in Sidcup
*
Gareth Bacon
Gareth Andrew Bacon (born 7 April 1972) is a British politician who has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Orpington since 2019. A member of the Conservative Party, he was a member of the London Assembly from 2008 until he stood down in ...
, politician and leader of the Conservative Party in the Greater London Assembly
*
Sam Bailey (1977–), winning contestant, ''
The X Factor'', grew up in Sidcup
*
Angela Barnes
Angela Barnes (born 9 November 1976) is an English stand-up comedian, mostly known for her appearances on ''Mock the Week''.
Early life
Barnes was born in Sidcup, London and brought up in Maidstone, Kent. She went to Invicta Grammar School t ...
(1976–) actress, stand-up comedienne, born in Sidcup
*
Michael Barnard, (1976–) darts player, lived in Sidcup
*
Christopher Battarbee
Christopher Mark Battarbee (born 11 April 1975) is a former English first-class cricketer.
Born at Sidcup in April 1975, Battarbee attended Keble College, Oxford. While studying at Oxford, he played first-class cricket for Oxford University in ...
(1975–), cricketer (
Oxford University
Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...
), born in Sidcup
*
Lake Bell (1979–), American actress, lived in Sidcup while studying at
Rose Bruford College in the 1990s.
*
Doreen Bird (1928–2004), dance teacher, lived in Sidcup and established
Bird College
Bird College – Conservatoire for Dance and Musical Theatre is an independent performing arts school and college, located in Sidcup, South East London, in the London Borough of Bexley.
The college was founded as a dance school by Doreen Bird i ...
*
Quentin Blake
Sir Quentin Saxby Blake, (born 16 December 1932) is an English cartoonist, caricaturist, illustrator and children's writer. He has illustrated over 300 books, including 18 written by Roald Dahl, which are among his most popular works. For his ...
(1932–), illustrator, artist, born in Sidcup
*
Denis Bond (1946–), children's author, actor and scriptwriter, lives in Sidcup
*
Tom Burns Thomas Burns, Tommy Burns or Tom Burns may refer to:
Politics
* Thomas Burns (politician) (born 1960), Nationalist Northern Irish politician
* Thomas Edward Burns (born 1927), Unionist Northern Irish politician
* Tom Burns (Australian politician ...
(1944–), Catholic bishop, lived and ministered in Sidcup and taught at St Mary's School in the 1970s
*
Garry Bushell
Garry Bushell (born 13 May 1955) is an English newspaper columnist, rock music journalist, television presenter, author, musician and political activist. Bushell also sings in the Cockney Oi! bands GBX and the Gonads. He managed the New York Ci ...
(1955–), journalist, lives in Sidcup
*
George Albert Cairns
Lieutenant George Albert Cairns VC (12 December 1913 – 19 March 1944) was a British Army officer and an English recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and ...
(1913–44), recipient of the last
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...
of
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, lived and worked in Sidcup
*
Sheila Callender (1914–2004), haematologist, born in Sidcup
*
Ben Chorley
Benjamin Francis Chorley (born 30 September 1982) is an English former footballer who played as a defender. He was most recently the director of football at Swindon Town.
Chorley started his career at Arsenal, spending several years at the cl ...
(1982–), footballer (
Tranmere Rovers,
Leyton Orient, now
Bromley F.C.), born in Sidcup
*
Charlie Clements (1987–), actor (''
EastEnders
''EastEnders'' is a Television in the United Kingdom, British soap opera created by Julia Smith (producer), Julia Smith and Tony Holland which has been broadcast on BBC One since February 1985. Set in the fictional borough of Walford in the Ea ...
''), born in Sidcup
*
Jason Crowe
Jason William Robert Crowe (born 30 September 1978) is an English former professional footballer who played as a right back, and midfielder from 1996 to 2013.
Crowe a former England Under-20 international started his career at Arsenal as a jun ...
(1978–), footballer, born in Sidcup
*
Jay Darlington (1968-), musician (former keyboardist for the band
Kula Shaker
Kula Shaker are an English psychedelic rock band. Led by frontman Crispian Mills, the band came to prominence during the Post-Britpop era of the late 1990s. The band enjoyed commercial success in the UK between 1996 and 1999, notching up a num ...
and currently a member of the band Magic Bus), born in Sidcup
*
Ian Davenport
Ian Davenport (born 8 July 1966) is an English abstract painter and former Turner Prize nominee.
Life and work
Ian Davenport was born in Sidcup, and studied art at the Northwich College of Art and Design in Cheshire and then at Goldsmiths C ...
(1966–), abstract painter and former
Turner Prize
The Turner Prize, named after the English painter J. M. W. Turner, is an annual prize presented to a British visual artist. Between 1991 and 2016, only artists under the age of 50 were eligible (this restriction was removed for the 2017 award) ...
nominee, born in Sidcup
*
Douglas Harries
Sir Douglas Harries (30 March 1893 – 6 December 1972) was an English first-class cricketer and an officer in the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. Harries began his military career with the Royal Navy, serving in the early stages of t ...
(1893–1972),
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...
air vice-marshal and first-class cricketer
*
Joe Healy
Joseph Healy (born 26 December 1986) is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder. He is currently a free agent. He has previously played in the Football League for Millwall
Millwall is a district on the western and southern side of ...
(1986–), footballer who previously played in the
Football League
The English Football League (EFL) is a league of professional football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888 as the Football League, the league is the oldest such competition in the world. It was the top-level football league in Engla ...
for
Millwall, born in Sidcup
*
Deren Ibrahim
Deren Ibrahim (born 9 March 1991) is a retired Gibraltarian footballer who mostly played for English club Dartford and the Gibraltar national team as a goalkeeper. He is currently goalkeeping coach at Gillingham and Wales U19.
Career Club
B ...
(1991–),
Gibraltar
)
, anthem = " God Save the King"
, song = " Gibraltar Anthem"
, image_map = Gibraltar location in Europe.svg
, map_alt = Location of Gibraltar in Europe
, map_caption = United Kingdom shown in pale green
, mapsize =
, image_map2 = Gib ...
ian footballer, born in Sidcup
*
Alfred Garth Jones
Alfred Garth Jones (1872–1955) was an English artist and illustrator who worked mainly in woodcut, pen and ink line art drawing and watercolour.
Early life
Alfred Jones was born in Hulme, Manchester in 1872, the son of Thomas Jones (b1844) ...
(1872–1955), illustrator, spent the last years of his life in Sidcup
*
John Paul Jones (1946–), bass guitarist (
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band formed in London in 1968. The group comprised vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham. With a heavy, guitar-driven sound, they are ci ...
), born in Sidcup
*
Rob Knox
Robert Arthur Knox (21 August 1989 – 24 May 2008) was an English actor who portrayed the character of Marcus Belby in the film ''Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince'', and had signed to appear in the film '' Harry Potter and the Deathly Ha ...
(1989–2008), actor, murdered in Sidcup
*
Douglas Macmillan
Douglas Macmillan MBE (10 August 1884 – 9 January 1969) was a British civil servant, vegetarianism activist and founder of the Macmillan Cancer Support charity, now one of the largest charities in the UK.
Early life and education
He was bo ...
(1884–1969), founder of
Macmillan Cancer Support
Macmillan Cancer Support is one of the largest British charities and provides specialist health care, information and financial support to people affected by cancer. It also looks at the social, emotional and practical impact cancer can have, a ...
, lived in Knoll Road from 1924 until 1966, and also ran his charity from that address. Bexley Civic Society placed a blue plaque on the house in 2010
*
Ivan Magill (1888–1986), innovative anaesthetist, worked in Sidcup
*
Lee Murray
Lee Brahim Murray-Lamrani (born 12 November 1977) is an English-Moroccan mixed martial arts fighter and criminal. In 2005, his MMA career was cut short after he was stabbed multiple times outside a Mayfair nightclub. He was arrested in Rabat, ...
(1977–), former kickboxer and mixed martial arts champion, convicted of the
Securitas depot robbery, lived in Sidcup
*
Emma Noble
Emma Jane Noble (born 26 June 1971) is an English model and actress. She was hostess on Bruce Forsyth's game show ''The Price Is Right'' for four years.
She worked as a catwalk model for John Rocha and Ghost before turning to commercial modellin ...
(1971–), model and actress, born in Sidcup
*
Mike Rann (1953–), Premier of
South Australia
South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...
, politician, born in Sidcup, lived in
Blackfen prior to emigrating to New Zealand with his parents
*
John Regis (1966–), Olympic sprinter, lived in Sidcup
*
Mark Ricketts (1984–), footballer, born in Sidcup
*
Wayne Routledge
Wayne Neville Anthony Routledge (born 7 January 1985) is an English former professional footballer who played as a winger. He represented England at under-16, under-19 and under-21 level.
Routledge began his career in London with Crystal Pala ...
(1985–), footballer, born in Sidcup
*
Gerard Shelley
George Frankham Shell known as George Gerard Shelley ( Sidcup, Kent 1891 – 24 August 1980) was a British linguist, author and translator who travelled in Imperial Russia before and during the Russian Revolution. He became a priest and lived in ...
(1891–1980), author, translator and Catholic bishop, born in Sidcup
*
Nevil Shute (1899–1960), novelist and aeronautical engineer, lived in Hatherley Road from 1924 to 1930 while working at
Vickers
Vickers was a British engineering company that existed from 1828 until 1999. It was formed in Sheffield as a steel foundry by Edward Vickers and his father-in-law, and soon became famous for casting church bells. The company went public in 18 ...
in
Crayford
Crayford is a town and electoral ward in South East London, England, within the London Borough of Bexley. It lies east of Bexleyheath and north west of Dartford. Crayford was in the historic county of Kent until 1965. The settlement deve ...
*
Ethel Smyth (1858–1944), composer and
suffragette
A suffragette was a member of an activist women's organisation in the early 20th century who, under the banner "Votes for Women", fought for the right to vote in public elections in the United Kingdom. The term refers in particular to members ...
, born in St. John's Road, Sidcup
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Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney
Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney (24 February 1733 – 30 June 1800) was a British politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1754 to 1783 when he was raised to the peerage as Baron Sydney. He held several important Cabinet posts in t ...
(1733–1800), politician and Cabinet minister, lived in
Frognal House,
Foots Cray
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Gordon Watson (1971–), former
Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club is a professional association football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. The team competes in League One, the third tier of the English football league system. Formed in 1867 as an offshoot of ...
footballer, born in Sidcup
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Elizabeth Wiskemann (1899–1971), historian and journalist, born in Sidcup
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Doug Wright
Douglas Wright (born December 20, 1962) is an American playwright, librettist, and screenwriter. He received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2004 for his play ''I Am My Own Wife''.
Early years
Wright was born in Dallas, Texas. He attended and ...
(1914–98), cricketer (
Kent
Kent is a county in South East England and one of the home counties. It borders Greater London to the north-west, Surrey to the west and East Sussex to the south-west, and Essex to the north across the estuary of the River Thames; it faces ...
and
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
), born in Sidcup
Fictional residents
* In the
Harold Pinter
Harold Pinter (; 10 October 1930 – 24 December 2008) was a British playwright, screenwriter, director and actor. A Nobel Prize winner, Pinter was one of the most influential modern British dramatists with a writing career that spanne ...
play ''
The Caretaker
''The Caretaker'' is a play in three acts by Harold Pinter. Although it was the sixth of his major works for stage and television, this psychological study of the confluence of power, allegiance, innocence, and corruption among two brothers an ...
'', Davies repeatedly says that "all his papers" are in Sidcup, and he will return there, but is "waiting for the weather to break".
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Roderick Spode — fictional politician and fashion designer, was the 7th Earl of Sidcup in the
Jeeves
Jeeves (born Reginald Jeeves, nicknamed Reggie) is a fictional character in a series of comedic short stories and novels by English author P. G. Wodehouse. Jeeves is the highly competent valet of a wealthy and idle young Londoner named Bertie W ...
stories by
P. G. Wodehouse.
References
Bibliography
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External links
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Bexley London Borough Council website
{{Authority control
Districts of the London Borough of Bexley
Areas of London
District centres of London