Were you aware that in 1965, winner of the Miss World international beauty pageant and one-time Bond girl, came from none other than our own fair county? Watch, as blonde bombshell Lesley Langley wanders about Weymouth in these latest of photos from the Herbert Photographic Collection.
A mayoral reception along the Esplanade, press teams pointing cameras, and crowds of avid fans closing in on her from every direction to claim their autograph. Each party seeks to capture a small piece of her fame (reference: D-HBT/5516).
Catapulted into international limelight at the age of just twenty, having won the titles of both “Miss United Kingdom” and “Miss World” in a single year, for Lesley Langley life in her hometown of Weymouth must have seemed extraordinarily surreal in 1965.
Miss Langley’s star appeal was even capitalised upon by her local branch of Marks and Spencer. In the following images, the viewer is lead by Miss Langley on a somewhat staged, but utterly interesting whistle-stop tour of this well known British department store (reference: D-HBT/5514).
Tip: Look closely at the signs, and spot the 1960s pricing structure!
Amber Phoenix, Archives Project Technician