The Press Club’s coveted Londoner of the Year award is presented at the annual event to someone who has made an outstanding contribution to life in the capital.
The 2019 Londoner of the Year Award goes to… Dame Barbara Windsor
Barbara with fellow ‘Carry On’ star Kenneth Williams
A true London icon, Barbara Windsor – she chose her stage name in honour of the Queen – was born in Shoreditch and started acting aged 13, with key early roles in St Trinian’s and for Joan Littlewood’s Theatre workshop at Stratford east. Appearances in nine Carry On films made her a star and she later became the longest-serving landlady of the Queen Vic in EastEnders from 1994 to 2010 and 2013 to 2016, from which she departed with a memorable death scene.
That year she was created a dame for her work in entertainment and charity, and one of her finest later roles has been as a spokesperson for fellow dementia sufferers. London really has nothing else like this Dame.
Barbara’s husband Scott Mitchell said on Barbara’s behalf:
“There are two things about this award that I know make it incredibly special to Barbara. Firstly, Being a true Londoner, born and bred and being fiercely proud of this amazing City, to be named Londoner of The Year is the biggest accolade you can give her.The second part is the fact it’s been given to her by The London Press Club.
“Barbara has always had a great respect for the press as she has always understood that the two worlds of celebrity and the press are part of each other’s fabric! They are both unruly and gossipy worlds which Barbara felt at home in.
“On behalf of Barbara, a big thank you to all of you for her award and the support you have shown us both recently and Barbara throughout the years.”
