Alan Rawsthorne (1905–1971) was a British composer born in Haslingden, Lancashire, and later buried in the churchyard at Thaxted.

Roy Noakes’ bronze portrait of Rawsthorne is held in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery. Alongside it is a plaster death mask of the composer, made by Noakes at the request of Isabel Rawsthorne. Rawsthorne himself had kept a death mask of Chopin in his workroom, a detail that adds a poignant resonance to Noakes’ own posthumous study of the composer.

Bernard Miles, Baron Miles of Blackfriars (1907–1991) was an English character actor of stage and film, as well as a writer and director. With his wife, Josephine Wilson, he founded the Mermaid Theatre in London, which they ran from 1951 to 1989.

Christopher Raeburn (1928–2009) was an internationally respected record producer, renowned for his work with Decca, where he specialised in opera recordings.

Isabel Nicholas 1912 –1992), also known at various times as Isabel Delmer, Isabel Lambert, and Isabel Rawsthorne was a British painter, scenery and costume designer, and occasional artists’ model. During the Second World War she worked in black propaganda as part of the special operations executive of the British Intelligence. She was part of an artistic bohemian society that included Jacob Epstein, Alberto Giacometti and Francis Bacon.

John “Jack” Lindsay AM, FRSL (1900–1990) was an Australian-born writer. Born in Melbourne, he spent his formative years in Brisbane.

He was the eldest son of the artist and writer Norman Lindsay and the brother of author Philip Lindsay.

John Blake was a photographer and close friend of Roy Noakes, who documented many of Noakes’ sculptures through his lens.

Lizzie Schwier is a ceramicist and former student of Roy Noakes from the early 1950s. She currently works in Little Sampford, Essex.

Lord Avon Robert Anthony Eden, 1st Earl of Avon (1897–1977), was a British politician and military officer who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1955 until his resignation in 1957.

Sir Malcolm Henry Arnold CBE (21 October 1921 – 2006) was an English composer and conductor. His prolific output spans many genres, including nine symphonies, numerous concertos, chamber and choral works, as well as music for brass and wind bands.

Sally Miles (1933–1986) was an actress known for her work in Shoulder to Shoulder (1974), Thriller (1973), and BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (1950).