HAPPY NEW YEAR TO READERS IN MY 15TH YEAR OF BLOGGING AND 350,000 PAGE VIEWS - WHEW!!!

Time seems to pass quickly when delving into historical archives. It was 2007 when my first invitation arrived to attend the unveiling of a plaque commemorating the life and times of Captain Christopher Newport, a Harwich sailor who, in 1607, had been the overall commander of the expedition to Virginia, America.

Mr Michael Macy, the American Cultural Attache at London's American Embassy and Members of the Harwich Society at Ha'penny' Quay Centre plus a group of historians and press, enjoyed learning about this valiant captain who rightly earned an important place in Essex naval history. His  trio of ships – the Godspeed, Discovery and his own flagship, the Susan Constant, reached Chesapeake Bay on 23rd April 1607 and the spot they eventually chose to make landfall – on 14th May was named Jamestown - in honour of King James l.

In May 2007, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth left England on a state visit to Virginia, where she and President Bush took part in similar ceremonies to mark the 400 years of the Virginian landing. 

Today, we start a new decade, and learn that another 400th anniversary is approaching. This time, we shall be commemorating the voyage of the Mayflower with numerous members from Essex on board, among them at least four from our own town of Billericay. Eighteen months ago, Billericay Mayflower Twinning Association created a steering group from representatives from the town’s clubs and societies to co-ordinate a programme of forty commemorative events to run throughout this year, and details of all the participating groups’ leaflets and posters of endorsed events will soon be available.

The complete programme will be printed in the spring and available through  Billericay's Town Crier journal, The Resident, and the Billericay Library, as well as at a launch on 20^th June 2020 in our High Street Reading Rooms. In the meantime, as events become finalised, up to date information will be gradually revealed on the popular BMTA’s website: www.billericaytwinning.org.uk and through the Facebook page: Billericay Mayflower 2020.

The members of the Billericay Town Twinning Association have worked hard to include something of interest for everyone – all ages and interests catered for – so that 2020 will be a truly memorable year.

www.billericaytwinning.org.uk  
www.sylviakent.blogspot.com