Our rich county

Above: November 08

ALTHOUGH every month Essex Life brings you the very best coverage of the county we all love, this month we certainly have something just that little bit extra special. Firstly, turn to page 89 for Essex Life’s 2008 Rich List. This year we focus in on the top 20 richest residents in the county and as well as some old favourites still going strong, there are also some surprising new kids on the block. What is so fascinating about this focus on the top earners in Essex is just how many of them have built their empires from scratch with entrepreneurial ideas and the endeavour to see them through to reality. Sir Alan Sugar, David Sullivan, Robbie Cowling, the Patel brothers and Don Lewin (to name just a few) all started with regular day jobs before seizing their chance to become a souring success. Read each of their stories, and many more in Essex Life this month.

As well as this wealth, Essex is also a county that is rich in heritage, but after a study by English Heritage, 34 of our most treasured historic landmarks are currently listed on the Heritage at Risk register. Many of our iconic buildings are in desperate need of restoration and only by acting now can we make a difference. On page 100, Essex Life reveals which locations are most at risk and what you can do to help.

And if you want proof that Essex Life can really make a difference, just ask Marie Polley. For the last 20 years Marie has been gathering the names of mothers and babies who were welcomed to Danbury Palace by General and Mrs Wigan when it became a temporary emergency maternity hospital during World War II. Following an article on the Danbury Palace babies in Essex Life’s September 2007 issue, Marie has welcomed another 16 ‘babies’ to the Danbury Babies association, adding further proof that Essex is such a rich county to live in – in so many ways.