What Basildon did have was modernity and wide open spaces – an airiness that you would not get in London. But somebody (who?) had a vision and the ‘improvements’ – the multi-storeys, one-way systems, more dual carriageways, the addition of a railway station, cinema, etc – began to take over. They did nothing to improve the character of the place but rather somehow served to impoverish it. For me, the die was really cast when at the town centre-end of Long Riding, (previously an open, welcoming approach to the shops) a concrete edifice appeared – as though it had plunged like a huge leaden weight from the sky, blocking-out the sun – which bore the name Toys r Us.

In my youth (I sound like my dear East Ender dad the older I get) the idea was that working-class people would have decent, affordable, rented accommodation. And when I think back, I am amazed at what we did have for such a low rent – much of the housing was excellent quality. But, on the infrequent occasions I have returned to Basildon in recent years, I am shocked at how run-down my old street, Long Riding, has become. Weren’t the children of Thatcher, so enabled by the flogging-off of the previously rented properties, supposed to become proud, property-owning, civic-minded citizens. Yes indeed, where did it all go wrong?