American Idol alum Jordin Sparks shows off her holiday cheer with sonDJ in matching pajamas as they lead celebs atCandy Cane Lane premiere in LA These women were the early adopters of the consumer lifestyle that became so tightly linked to Essex. “The life I’d come from was so different to that,” said Steadman. “It was Liverpool, the start of the Beatles and all that, but there was no sense of being ‘upwardly mobile’.” Whereas Liverpool and other northern towns had their own industries, traditions and rituals that set them apart from London, Essex had become a place to escape family memories of poverty in the city. “People weren’t satisfied at what had been going on for years and years with their parents and grandparents,” Steadman said. “This was a new time when they weren’t just going to sit in some little house somewhere and put up with it.”

Britain was in perpetual economic turmoil in the 1970s, yet the economy of the south-east flourished in comparison to other regions, in particular the northern towns. People who had grown up in pokey London flats were saving for first homes outside London, in return for a bit more space, a garden and somewhere to park the car. The Conservatives were tapping into a desire that had shaped the history of Essex – people had long been moving east in search of space and a home of their own. And yet, in a sense, the Tories were just following the prevailing societal trends. Home ownership passed 50% in 1970 – not under the Conservatives, but under Labour, the party that built the welfare state.Locals have made their own mark on the Hollywood-esque sign. In 2011, 15-year-old Army Cadet Bobby Baker put the "ah" in Armistice Day when he fixed a giant poppy onto the sign. In 2012, it was also adorned with the Olympic rings to mark the start of the Games. Because if it was any longer, you'd have to retrain them. How can you tell if an Essex girl's been using the computer? A typical Dave is just over 30, he's a handy man, a painter and decorator, or a plumber or even works in boiler installation. Dave has two kids, loves the weekend football and takes pride in his barbecue between May and September. marks the 23rd year of the Clacton Airshow which will be held on August 21 and 22. Last year, the airshow won the best event category at the 2013 Essex Tourism and Hospitality Awards. Then, in words that seem like they could have been lifted from a present-day jeremiad against leave voters, Fanshawe continued: “Not that they knew that was what they were doing, or understood the effect it might have on the rest of us. They were far too self-centred for that.”

Many of the beauty trends that have swept the nation were made famous by Essex. Fads like the infamous 'vajazzle' and HD-brows, along with longer-lasting trends like spray tans, false lashes and acrylics combined to create a certain image.

7) The epic highs of living with an Essex accent.

The recognisable Essex 'brand' isn't natural-looking, but its not meant to be, either. It's a beauty process which reclaims a person's appearance, seeing your features as pliable, adaptable, and commercialisable in a way which mirrors the social and economic mobility that Essex is known for. Look" says the beautiful landlady, who loves a chat. "If any one of you can tell me where you live without stuttering, I"ll let you make love to me". Evan Ellingson's cause of death revealed: My Sister's Keeper star died from accidental fentanyl overdose at age 35