Barratt and David Wilson Homes have honoured the late actress Lynda Bellingham, by unveiling signs for a new road named after the star.
The road, which is part of the Kingsbrook development, was named ‘Bellingham Way’ in memory of Lynda, who grew up in Aston Abbots near Aylesbury and attended Aylesbury High School.
The first of the Bellingham Way road signs was officially unveiled by members of Lynda Bellingham’s family, local councillors and Ian Sadler, Managing Director at Barratt and David Wilson Homes North Thames.
Lynda Bellingham starred in the long-running series of Oxo Family TV advertisements and appeared in numerous TV and stage productions, including, All Creatures Great and Small in between 1998 and 1990 and as a panellist on Loose Women between 2007 and 2011. As an important figure for Aylesbury, she returned to the town in 2009 to perform the topping out ceremony on the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre and in 2010 to appear in a production of Calendar Girls and the theatre. She was diagnosed with cancer in 2013 and sadly died in 2014.
Jenny Puddefoot, who was a school friend of Lynda’s at Aylesbury High School and previously the town’s Mayor, suggested Bellingham Way to honour Lynda’s memory and her importance to the area. Sheila Cotton, parish councillor at Bierton Village Parish Council then contacted members of the Bellingham family to get their blessing for the new road name.
Michael Peluso, Lynda’s eldest son, said: “I would just like to say Bellingham Way has made myself and my family incredibly proud. My mother would have been so honoured and on her behalf I would like to say a huge thank you to Barratt and David Wilson Homes North Thames, Aylesbury Vale District Council and Sheila Cotton from Bierton Village Parish Council for making this a reality.
“From what I have witnessed Kingsbrook will be a huge success and I hope this continues to be the blueprint for developments in the future. To everyone who is working on the project well done.”
Jean Bellingham said: “Lynda would have been honoured to have a road named after her.”
Cllr Julie Ward, Oakfield and Bierton Ward Councillor at Aylesbury Vale District Council, said: “I was honoured to attend the unveiling of Bellingham Way. Lynda was one of Aylesbury’s greatest daughters, remembered as a loving and beautiful person. It is fitting that her name will live on in an attractive new development that forms part of our garden town vision.”
Ian Sadler, Managing Director at Barratt and David Wilson North Thames, said: “We were honoured to have Michael and Jean to Kingsbrook to come to unveil the Bellingham Way road signs. We are delighted that we could pay tribute to Lynda Bellingham and keep her memory alive in Aylesbury.
“We would like to thank Michael and Jean for making the unveiling special, as well as the county, district and parish councillors for helping us name Bellingham Way.”