In message , at 18:08:38 on Sat, 5 Sep
2015, Bryan Morris remarked:

Ilford & Romford are nominally Essex for Post Code purposes and most
people assume they are in Essex but in fact they are in London Boroughs

Huh ?

The postcode system cares nothing for counties and nothing in outer
Greater London has a London postcode.

Would you say that people think Kingston & Richmond & Twickenham are
"not in London boroughs" ?

Nope but "Essex Man" & "Essex Girl" jokes are often aimed at residents
of Ilford & Romford

TOWIE locations are in present day Essex, and my understanding is that
"Essex man" is a refugee from Dagenham now living in Basildon, Essex.

Where-ever "Essex Girls" are supposed to come from, the meme probably
predates boundary changes a generation ago.
--
Roland Perry