TIME'S UP - NEW YEAR AHEAD!

 Wishing you all a happy healthy New Year!

NEW YEAR AHEAD - MY EIGHTEENTH YEAR OF BLOGGING! WISHING ALL READERS A HAPPY NEW YEAR

 Now reprising some of my books that have brought me such great readers and new friends particularly over the last year.  It was lovely to be invited to Waterstones in Brentwood last week by Ross, their Manager who has helped wonderfully in displaying and promoting Essex authors - so much appreciated.  Wishing you all a healthy, happy 2024!

WISHING ALL MY READERS AND WRITERS A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS

 

CHRISTMAS PAST IN ESSEX BY ELIZABETH WALLACE

CHRISTMAS PAST IN ESSEX

Once again Elizabeth Wallace's superb book is selling well in town.  Christmas Past in Essex is fascinating. The author describes the life and times of the people in the county at this special time of the year. She outlines the life of the rich and the poor and how they celebrated. Many of the folk migrated to Essex from the London area and, of course, they brought with them their distinctive customs and traditions that are still used at Christmas-time.

Christmas Past in Essex offers the reader an extraordinary historical glimpse into lives of the people of Essex. From the little girl who fondly recalls her Christmases in an orphanage to Jack Bartlett, the Billericay postman who diligently delivered the post and then returned home to fall asleep over his Christmas dinner. There are scores of wonderful stories and excellent photographs, many of which have never before been published.

As Elizabeth collected the wonderful memories and treasured photographs, she was mindful of the responsibility placed in her hands. To this end, she recorded the memoirs verbatim, and was therefore able to keep the individual’s voice and essence. There are more than 60 fascinating photographs, original artwork from Essex artists and over one hundred intriguing stories, customs and traditions contained in Christmas Past in Essex.

Elizabeth hopes that readers will enjoy the stories and photographs contained in Christmas Past in Essex and in doing so will rekindle pleasant memories of their own Christmases that will be handed down to future generations.
Publisher: Tempus Publishing ISBN-13: 978-0752444635 £9.99

WELCOMING NEW MEMBERS TO BRENTWOOD WRITERS' CIRCLE - NOW IN ITS 83RD YEAR

 

LOOKING AFTER OUR COMMUNITIES - ESSEX NEWS VIA POLICE DISPATCH NEWSLETTERS

 As you may or may not be aware, Essex Police have Dispatch Newsletters which members of the public can sign up to. Dispatch provides our communities with a weekly overview of news from Essex Police, along with crime prevention advice, information about our latest job vacancies, top tweets from a selection of our Twitter accounts and remembering former colleagues who have sadly died.

 

Since August 2021, Essex Police have gained 10,000 subscribers and they hope to keep growing.

 

Dispatch brings together news and information published by our officers, staff and volunteers, so that those who live in, work in and regularly visit Essex, can go to one place to find out what's been happening across the county that week.

 

Dispatch is a digital newsletter which means once you sign up, it's sent directly to your email inbox.  It's completely free and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Sign up today and stay up to date with how our Essex Police are helping people across Essex, keeping you safe and catching criminals.

 

The link is below:

 

https://www.essex.police.uk/police-forces/essex-police/areas/essex-police/au/about-us/dispatch/

 

A LITTLE NOSTALGIA NOW AND AGAIN - TALKING PICTURES TV WITH THE FOOTAGE DETECTIVES

 

 TALKING PICTURES TV - FABULOUS SLICES OF FILM AND TELEVISION NOSTALGIA-   ACROSS SEVERAL CHANNELS - SEE BELOW

            Talking Pictures TV MD Sarah Cronin-Stanley and father Noel Cronin

I've often written about my interest in films and television programmes from the past, so was delighted to discover Talking Pictures TV (found it on Freeview Channel 82) which made its appearance in May 2015. Recently, the Hertfordshire Life Magazine published my six-page article which so many people have enjoyed reading. 

Sunday afternoon at 5pm is the high spot for this platform which is drawing in millions of viewers, particularly The Footage Detectives. Mike Read and Noel Cronin showing us some precious footage of films from long ago. Great slices of nostalgia. More filming is taking place as we speak and the team at Talking Pictures has been filming more episodes of The Footage Detectives this week. 

 

You can watch Talking Pictures TV on Virgin 445, Freesat 306, Freeview or Youview 82 or on the Sky digital satellite platform, channel 328.

BENJAMIN ZEPHANIAH - GREAT SADNESS TO HEAR OF OUR FRIEND'S PASSING RIP

Courtesy and copyright of  photographer Adrian  Pope

So many of our colleagues in the SWWJ were saddened to hear of the passing of Benjamin who was well-known in our Society.  I had the pleasure of meeting him at a special vegan lunch some years ago at Brentwood School in Essex and found we had such a lot in common.  Learnt a lot about his vegan experiences and still use his recipes.

Enjoyed his poetry which was simple and loved by children and adults alike, as were many of his latest books and films.  

ONCE AGAIN OUR AMAZING FUN WALK IS IN THE NEWS

 

2023 Fun Walk Smashes Fundraising Goals  

POSTED ON 29/11/2023 BY ADMIN

29
Nov

FUN WALK EXCEEDS £1.5 MILLION RAISED SINCE INCEPTION.

At a special celebration evening last week attended by many local charities and community groups, John Baron MP, shared that with the 2023 annual walk, the Fun Walk has now reached a phenomenal milestone, as the total raised since it was founded in 2002 has now exceeded £1.5 million.

This year’s Fun Walk raised over £85,000 with an estimated 2,000 supporters taking part in sponsored walks across Essex. The funds will be used for a wide variety of local charities and good causes including those supporting young people, mental health, disability, environmental, educational, community sporting and advocacy groups.

John Baron MP and Chair of the Fun Walk Trustees said:
“I’d like to congratulate all of the Fun Walk participants who have taken the time to fundraise for their local charities and community groups. £1.5 million is a huge achievement and we are so pleased and proud to have reached this milestone.

“We couldn’t have done this without the generous support of local businesses, whose donations this year allowed us to pay a 40% bonus over and above the money each organisation raised themselves. Our 2023 sponsors include Swan Housing, IFE Global Logistics, Greater Anglia, Reactive Integrated Services, Anisha Grange Care Home, Butyl Products Group, Tunnelcraft, Mr Barrie Stone and others.”

SNAP Fundraising Assistant Fiona Townsend said:
“Thank you so much for the bonus SNAP will be receiving from the Trust. It really is appreciated. We are already excited and looking forward to getting involved again next year.”

Sophie Ede, Chief Executive Officer Hearing Help said:
“Thank you so much for enabling us to organise this fundraising event – we had a great time completing the walk again this year, and are hugely grateful to you for the opportunity.“

BATIAS Advocacy Manager, Kate Knight said:
“Thank you to everyone at the Fun Walk that organises this event every year. It is such a valuable resource for some of the smallest charities.”

For more information, please visit the Fun Walk website: www.thefunwalktrust.co.uk