Sabrina Drive - what's in a name?

Image: © P L Chadwick Taken: 19 Aug 2010

The name Norma Ann Sykes may not mean anything to most people today, but in the 1950's and 60's she was a well-known celebrity, appearing under her stage name of Sabrina (not to be confused with the Italian pop star of the 1980's, who used the same name). The earlier Sabrina had minor parts in lesser-known films, appeared on TV, in adverts and did the usual things that celebrities do. She also made a few records, one or two of which made some progress in the pop charts of those days. However she was particularly known for her striking physical appearance. She was blonde and in the mould of contemporaries like Diana Dors and Jayne Mansfield. You may well be asking what all this has to do with a minor road in Bewdley. The answer is that when this residential road was being developed, the proposal to name it Sabrina Drive, caused a local outcry amongst some of the good citizens of Bewdley. They were under the mistaken impression that the road was being named in honour of this English celebrity, and felt this would be a negative step. However their minds were put at rest, when it was explained that the road was being named after the Roman name for the River Severn which is also Sabrina. Fans of Norma/Sabrina will be pleased to know she is still alive at the present time, and enjoying retirement in California. Image

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