WHEN I asked people if they would like to contribute some words in tribute to the late Josephine Melville - an extraordinary woman who was a fierce champion of the arts scene - I was inundated with messages from so many who worked on the huge amount of projects that the Westcliff lady got involved in.
It is testament to the astonishing amount of work she did, that there isn’t nearly enough space to include them all here.
Jo - originally from Forest Gate but who had lived in Westcliff for many years - was a stage, screen and radio actor, as well as a writer, director and producer, to name but a few of her roles.
She was widely known for her role of Tessa Parker in Eastenders and guest appearances on other major TV shows, pantos, films and more, but in Southend she was well known for being involved in a myriad of projects, always leaving people in awe of how much energy she had and how much she got involved in.
As well as being a trustee for Metal Southend, projects close to her heart included the South Essex African Caribbean Association (SEACA) of which she was founder; the Steel Here Southend steel pan band; the Time To Shine project in Southend; the East Beach Festival; the Hamlet Court Road In Harmony Festival; the All Women Festival; the Essex Cultural Diversity project; and the Know Your Roots -‘My hair is the reflection of who I am’ projects in Basildon, Colchester and Southend.
With the love of her life, Eastenders actor Roger Griffiths, she began Eye 2 Eye Productions, staging live drama workshops and producing digitally filmed programmes, working with organisations ranging from primary schools to young offenders institutes. Eye 2 Eye also produced the art exhibition Poetry and Prose, a living archive that celebrates 100 years of black artists in Britain, for which which she was honoured by the London Metropolitan Archives with the revered Archive Landmark Award 2009.
Jo started her career as a dancer, moving to acting in 1983. Three years later, she debuted in Moon on a Rainbow Shawl at the Theatre Royal, Stratford East, which marked the beginning of a lengthy association with that company.
At the time of her death, Jo had completed filming for a starring role in the thriller Slammer.
Josephine Melville passed away backstage at the Nottingham Playhouse after performing in Nine Night, on Thursday, October 20.
Heartfelt tributes paid from across the south Essex community
"Jo went for a massive hug over a handshake every time. She was generous with her time, her wisdom and her joy. She was your ideal trustee, always so actively engaged, always offering support and constructive suggestions to make us better. I don’t know how she did it, but she found the time to be everywhere, with everyone, and always made people feel like they were special when she was speaking with them; she made everyone feel important. She was a galvanising influence, she really knew how to bring people together. Most importantly she was really, really good fun. People like this come once in a generation and I feel very grateful to have been able to meet and work with Jo – she made a real difference at Metal and we are truly grateful”
- Andrea Cunningham, director, Metal Southend
“Jo is the most incredible person I have ever known. Many will tell you the same. She was a continual inspiration and mentor to me, like she was with so many others. Just about every time I saw Jo she’d pull me into some project! Jo was very persuasive and had a great reputation for being so. She was also very warm, genuine, trustworthy, funny and brought out the best in you.”
- Michelle Passfield, friend and marketing officer.
“Josephine Melville was a one off who I first met when she joined the committee for Hamlet Court Road in Harmony, a multi-cultural community festival. It’s fair to say that Jo put the festival into the committee. Jo was friends with everyone, she was supportive, encouraging, lit up the room and brought people together. Jo has left an incredible legacy of events and groups as well as the part she played in so many people’s lives. She will be remembered and very much missed.”
Councillor Kay Mitchell
“I’d known Jo for 12 years. We met when I was doing youth work in 2009. The first time I worked with her was on a backdrop for a comedy show she was organising at the Palace theatre. I remember being amazed at how well connected she was. Considering the ground-breaking things she’d been involved in she was very modest and quite private about her own success stories. She’ll be remembered as a power house of enthusiasm and determination. She had this passion to encourage others to gain the confidence to make their own success stories.”
- Scott Irving, spray can artist.
“Jo was a great community organiser, both within the South African, Caribbean and wider Southend communities, a great fundraiser, and often organising free events. She was a champion for the arts and instrumental in starting the East Beach Festival, as well as being on the organising committee of Hamlet Court Road in Harmony festival. I miss her as a true friend, great community champion, and the bundle of energy and enthusiasm that she was.”
Councillor Maxine Sadza
“Jo was an incredible inspiration, she worked hard to make our community more connected and creative. She worked with N - Act Theatre as the compere for our tent at the Village Green in 2019 and brought all her vivaciousness to the event. She was perfect for the job. She also directed the short film Assistance for Ark Indie Productions during the pandemic and it was such an honour to have her share her knowledge and gifts with us. There is a great hole in the creative heart of Southend now she has gone and we will miss her.”
- Alice Ryan – N-Act, actor, producer
“Jo Melville was a leading figure for the arts sector in Essex and beyond. Her passion, energy, hard work and commitment to delivering outstanding events and festivals including Black History Month and East Beach Festival will be missed. Since its inception in 2008 Jo has been a valuable supporter and advocate for Essex Cultural Diversity Project and we will all deeply miss her.”
- Indi Sandhu, ECDP
“I first met Josephine Melville in 2019 when we worked together on Southend’s Windrush celebrations. Hosted by the local charity Trust Links, we teamed up with the South Essex African Caribbean Association, founded by Josephine, to put on what I envisaged would be a one-off event. It’s a testament to Josephine that we ended up running three celebratory Windrush events over that summer and autumn. These were community events that enriched us all. Josephine had multiple gifts. Her energy was legendary. Her commitment to bringing people together, showcasing new talent and giving voice to the community was unparalleled. Josephine was a genuine star and a truly treasured figure in our community. She tirelessly created so much good stuff for so many people. Josephine certainly leaves us better than she found us and I can’t believe she’s gone.”
Jessica Russell - Windrush events
“Jo was an enthusiastic, loyal, and irreplaceable friend to the NetPark Wellbeing project at Metal. Since we started the project in 2016, Jo helped many of our participants who came from the African-Caribbean community. Many of our participants felt isolated and lonely, often moving to Southend from London knowing no-one in their community. Jo was our go-to person to help participants connect with others in the Southend area who needed the warmth and acceptance of Afro-Caribbean friendship. Jo’s positivity, friendliness and energy will be sorely missed and leaves an enormous hole in the community of Southend.”
- Emma Mills, NetPark mental health and wellbeing co-ordinator
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