VERY HAPPY TO PUBLICISE THIS LOVELY BOOK WHICH SUMS UP THE WARMEST WISHES OF THIS SPECIAL FESTIVE TIME

 

DIFFERENT CHRISTMAS CAKE THIS YEAR - CHOCOLATE TIME!

 

BILLERICAY ENJOYS MANY FASCINATNG HISTORICAL CONNECTIONS - OUR MAYFLOWER MORRISMEN TEAM IS ONE OF OUR GEMS

MORRIS DANCING IN BILLERICAY FOR MORE THAN  450 YEARS

 The first record of Morris dancing in Billericay was 450 years ago. It took place at an unnamed inn on the evening of 5th February 1575 and went on past midnight. We even know the name of one of the dancers: Geoffrey Cole. We reckon that makes us Billericay's oldest club or society. On 9th January 2025 Mayflower Morris Men will mark that occasion by dancing outside The Chequers. Feel free to come along and join in! The venue is apt because it was at that pub 53 years ago that four men met and planned to revive Morris in the town, and one of them, another Geoffrey (Douglas), is still dancing with the side. Two new dancers recently joined the side but it also lost a male musician. So if there are accordionists, violinists, or pipe & taborers who'd like to learn to play the Morris, the current musicians will gladly teach them the tunes! Get in touch!

Mayflower Morris Men (01277 654228)  Julian Whybra

 

LATEST NEWS FROM OUR 2024 FUN WALK - VERY PROUD OF ALL OUR WALKING TEAMS AND OUR WONDERFUL SPONSORS

 

2024 Fun Walk Raises over £100,000 for Essex Good Causes

Posted on 05/12/2024 by admin

05
Dec

At a Celebration Evening last week attended by many local charities and community groups, John Baron, Chair of the Fun Walk Trustees, announced that the 2024 Fun Walk had raised nearly £101,000 with an estimated 2,000 supporters taking part in sponsored walks across Essex.

John welcomed Professor Michael Almond, Deputy Lieutenant of Essex, representing His Majesty the King, Commanding Officer Simon Tayor and the 2393 (Billericay) Air Training Cadets, as well as Jim Shrubb the Billericay Town Cryer, and thanked them for their support of the Celebration evening.

John Baron said:
“I confirmed last year that I wished to continue my involvement with The Fun Walk Trust charity that we established in 2002, and which has since raised over £1,635,000 for local charities and good causes.”

“To be part of the Fun Walk over 22 years is a great honour. It represents the best of our communities in working together and marries a very strong charitable and entrepreneurial ethos by encouraging businesses to donate into the bonus pot which in turn encourages charities to do even more.”

John thanked the organisations present for all the work they do in the local community during the year, and said “Tonight we can celebrate that as well”.

In terms of Fundraising, John was happy to announce that this year’s event raised over £100,000 including the bonus, which this year was set at 30%. This total is better than recent years’ efforts and the bonus amount along with Gift Aid allows charities to add more than 50% to the money raised directly from their sponsored walks.

John said

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank our generous Bonus Pot sponsors including Brown & Carroll (London), Sanctuary Housing, Greater Anglia, Tunnelcraft, Butyl Products Group, IFE Global Logistics, Mr Barrie Stone and a number of other individuals.”

There was also a special mention of Ram Goyal of Hallmark Care Homes, who was present at the event, given he has been a major supporter of the Fun Walk over the past decade.

John thanked the ‘Home team’ for making things run smoothly including the Fun Walk Trustees, Sandra, Christine, and Sylvia as well as Simon Licence from Hunt Smee Accountants, and the BBW CVS team led by Chief Officer Simon Johnson, who help provide the administration for the Fun Walk Trust.

He concluded by saying “If you know of any other good causes or charities, please ask them to get in touch with us for next year’s event.”

OUR FUN WALK CELEBRATION EVENING AT CANON ROCHE HALL IN BILLERICAY ON 29 NOVEMBER WAS A GREAT SUCCESS

 

2024 Fun Walk Raises over £100,000 for Essex Good Causes

At a Celebration Evening last week attended by many local charities and community groups, John Baron, Chair of the Fun Walk Trustees, announced that the 2024 Fun Walk had raised nearly £101,000 with an estimated 2,000 supporters taking part in sponsored walks across Essex.

John welcomed Professor Michael Almond, Deputy Lieutenant of Essex, representing His Majesty the King, Commanding Officer Simon Tayor and the 2393 (Billericay) Air Training Cadets, as well as Jim Shrubb the Billericay Town Cryer, and thanked them for their support of the Celebration evening.

John Baron said:

“I confirmed last year that I wished to continue my involvement with The Fun Walk Trust charity that we established in 2002, and which has since raised over £1,635,000 for local charities and good causes.”

“To be part of the Fun Walk over 22 years is a great honour. It represents the best of our communities in working together and marries a very strong charitable and entrepreneurial ethos by encouraging businesses to donate into the bonus pot which in turn encourages charities to do even more.”

John thanked the organisations present for all the work they do in the local community during the year, and said “Tonight we can celebrate that as well”.

In terms of Fundraising, John was happy to announce that this year’s event raised over £100,000 including the bonus, which this year was set at 30%. This total is better than recent years’ efforts and the bonus amount along with Gift Aid allows charities to add more than 50% to the money raised directly from their sponsored walks.

John said:

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank our generous Bonus Pot sponsors including Brown & Carroll (London), Sanctuary Housing, Greater Anglia, Tunnelcraft, Butyl Products Group, IFE Global Logistics, Mr Barrie Stone and a number of other individuals.”

There was also a special mention of Ram Goyal of Hallmark Care Homes, who was present at the event, given he has been a major supporter of the Fun Walk over the past decade.

John thanked the ‘Home team’ for making things run smoothly including the Fun Walk Trustees, Sandra, Christine, and Sylvia as well as Simon Licence from Hunt Smee Accountants, and the BBW CVS team led by Chief Officer Simon Johnson, who help provide the administration for the Fun Walk Trust. He concluded by saying “If you know of any other good causes or charities, please ask them to get in touch with us for next year’s event.”     www.thefunwalktrust.co.uk

WELCOME TO FATIMA WHITBREAD AT PHOENIXFM RADIO STATION'S MORNING PROGRAMME - MICHELLE WARD PRESENTER

 

It was good to speak to author and Olympic Medal Winner, Fatima Whitbread about her new book, MY BRIGHT SHINING STAR. This fabulous book is based on her own  experiences of growing up in the care system, a subject that is never far from her heart. So lovely to hear from listeners to Michelle Ward's Eat My Brunch programme's section Book Club and a chance to chat with our super friend going back over twenty-five years. Gorgeous illustrations, too. A wonderful Christmas gift for people of all ages.

ALL SYSTEMS GO AT GALLEYWOOD HERITAGE CENTRE - 3 DECEMBER - MEET THE CREAM OF ESSEX WRITERS

 

A STYLISH WELCOME TO BILLERICAY'S NEW POST OFFICE

It was a great pleasure to meet Mr King, our new postmaster and his family on Saturday morning at the opening of our brand new busy post office in Billericay High Street. What a wonderful welcome and a chance to meet up with neighbours and friends from our local Billericay Council and the Mayor of Basildon Cllr Allan Davies and the Chair of Billericay Town Council Cllr Mark Thomas.