SYLVIA KENT'S READING & WRITING FORUM

A history and lifestyle journal www.swwj.co.uk

Monday, November 25, 2024

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.


 



Friday, November 22, 2024

FESTIVE EVENTS TO COME

Brentwood Connected, the Business Improvement District (BID) across Brentwood, Shenfield and Ingatestone is working in partnership with Brentwood Borough Council to host three free Christmas events for families this festive Season.  

Lighting Up Brentwood, a joint event between Brentwood Connected and Brentwood Borough Council, will take place in Brentwood High Street on Saturday 23 November from 12-6pm, featuring live entertainment, food and Christmas gift buying opportunities, a Santa Parade and the Christmas light switch-on.  A road closure will be in place to allow visitors to enjoy entertainment, activities and stalls in the High Street. 



The Giant Christmas Bauble from Brentwood Connected will return to the Chapel Ruins, this year sponsored by Mullis & Peake.  Visitors are encouraged to take selfies with this attraction and tag Brentwood Connected when posting on social media.  Lighting Up Brentwood will be supported by Brentwood Theatre, Razzamataz Theatre Schools and Stagecoach Performing Arts Brentwood.
Christmas comes to Shenfield on Sunday 1 December with ‘Festive Shenfield’ from 12-6pm, a free event from Brentwood Connected, supported by Brentwood Borough Council, Brentwood Theatre, Rainer Hughes, Razzamataz Theatre Schools and Stagecoach Performing Arts Brentwood.  Hutton Road will be taken over by festive activities including entertainment and walkabout acts.  There will be live music performances hosted in and around Shenfield businesses, with food and drink available from the wide range of businesses on Hutton Road.
The Ingatestone Christmas Market takes place on Sunday 8 December from 12-6pm, delivered by Brentwood Connected and supported by Brentwood Borough Council, Brentwood Theatre, Razzamataz Theatre Schools and Stagecoach Performing Arts Brentwood.  This popular event returns to Ingatestone Community Centre with over 50 outdoor market stalls selling food, gifts and a wide selection of festive and handmade items.  There will be a community stage with live music performances throughout the day, as well as an indoor market with stalls from community groups and a Santa’s grotto.  The Ingatestone Christmas Market is a long-running event, previously organised by the Rotary Club of Ingatestone, which attracts thousands of Christmas shoppers to Ingatestone.  It’s well-supported by the community, including High Street businesses who will host activities and attractions on the day, encouraging visitors to explore the entire village.  There will be free parking on the day at Anglo European School (Willow Green CM4 0DJ).
Kaye Thurgood, Chair of the Brentwood Business Partnership (the advisory board of Brentwood Connected), and owner of Sincerely Yours in Shenfield, said, “Working in partnership with Brentwood Borough Council, we are delighted to announce the festive events for this year, which have been carefully curated for Brentwood, Shenfield and Ingatestone by business representatives of Brentwood Connected.  I hope these events will provide a fantastic opportunity for our community to get into the festive spirit and celebrate our wonderful high streets.”
Councillor David Kendall, Chair of the Finance and Resources Committee at Brentwood Borough Council, said: "Lighting Up Brentwood is the perfect way to kick off the Christmas season in our borough, and we’re excited to partner with Brentwood Connected to spread festive cheer across Brentwood, Shenfield and Ingatestone. With the Christmas lights switch-on, live entertainment, and a variety of local food and gift stalls, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. We can’t wait to welcome residents and visitors to experience the best of what our high streets have to offer.  This is a time for families to come together and enjoy the magic of Christmas in our borough."
Brentwood Connected is a unique Business Improvement District (BID) supporting the borough’s three high streets and funded by town centre businesses to improve the experience of residents, visitors, employees and businesses in Brentwood, Shenfield and Ingatestone.  For information about Brentwood Connected, including events listings, business directories and local information, visit www.brentwoodconnected.co.uk.  Details about local Christmas events, including Lighting Up Brentwood, Festive Shenfield and the Ingatestone Christmas Market, is available on www.brentwoodconnected.co.uk/christmas.

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

REPRISING SOME OF MY EARLIER BOOKS IN READINESS FOR ONE OR TWO NEW TALKS ON ESSEX HISTORY


 

Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Author TG Trouper featured on the talk show Briggs on Books from Essex, ...

Friday, November 15, 2024

VERY PROUD OF OUR RATHER SPECIAL MEMBERS OF SWWJ AND THEIR SCREENWRITING ABILITIES - SEE THEIR INTERVIEW ON PHOENIXFM

 

Essex Film Makers Go to Hollywood!

For this month's Book Club with Sylvia Kent Vice-President and Archivist at the Society of Women Writers & Journalists, we were joined by writers, script and film makers, Anne Murray and Benita Cullingford. Their real life story takes them from Essex to Hollywood! Listen to the Award Winning Film Makers tell their incredible story.

Four women passionate about making independent films that don’t cost a fortune.INTERVIEW


Inspirational story that proves age is but a number.

Check out this interview with Benita and Anne, writers, script writers and Film Makers that ended up in Hollywood (winning over ten awards for their films). An incredible journey.
Full Interview link below.
Essex Film Makers Go to Hollywood! - Phoenix FM
phoenixfm.com
Essex Film Makers Go to Hollywood! - Phoenix FM
For this months Book Club with Sylvia Kent we were joined by writers, script and film makers, Anne Murray and Benita Cullingford. read more

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HAZEL'S QUIZ NIGHT - SATURDAY 16 NOVEMBER 7.30pm supporting BILLERICAY COMMUNITY ARCHIVE

We are all gearedup for tomorrow's annual Quiz and happy to welcome our brainy friends once again.   Good luck to everyone!!!


Tuesday, November 05, 2024

VERY IMPORTANT TO KEEP OUR LIBRARIES OPEN! THINK ABOUT CROYDON AND OUR FRIENDS WHO LIVE THERE!

 


Monday, November 04, 2024

OUR 2024 FUN WALK: ALL SET FOR THE "GRAND REVEAL" ON FRIDAY 29 NOVEMBER


This year’s Fun Walk saw 90 local charities and community groups registered and an estimated 3,000 supporters take part in sponsored walks across Essex. The participating organisations are currently collecting their sponsorship money, and the Fun Walk team is set for a ‘grand reveal’ of the amount raised at their Celebration Evening on November 29
th.

The Fun Walk Trust helps charities, local schools and churches, grass roots sports teams and other community groups raise funds for their projects and initiatives, and a Bonus Pot sponsored by local businesses tops up the amount each organisation raises themselves.

 John Baron, Chair of the Fun Walk Trustees, said:

“This year’s event looks as if it will be even more successful than last year, and we are delighted so many charities and good causes will be able to use the Fun Walk to boost their fundraising efforts.”


“The photos we received of the various sponsored walks completed around Essex have been wonderful and we are happy to share some of the highlights. To see more photos and learn about the Fun Walk, please visit our website: www.thefunwalktrust.co.uk

“We could not hold this event without the generous support of local businesses who sponsor the Bonus Pot. They include Greater Anglia, Sanctuary Housing Association, Brown & Carroll, Butyl Products Group, Tunnelcraft, IFE Global Logistics, Mr Barrie Stone and other individuals. Our thanks go to them all.”

Friday, November 01, 2024

SATURDAY'S GREAT ANNUAL BILLERICAY COMMUNITY ARCHIVE GATHERING - THANK YOU FOR VISITING

 Last week's all day gathering at Billericay Library was a huge success and members of our rather special Billericay Community Archive were happy to sign up more local residents (and some out of town visitors) to join the 'Friends' group we are currently recruiting. Do take a look at our website: www.billericaycommunityarchive.com to pick up some of the most interesting images we have to show you.  Maybe you have some yourself and it so, please do make contact?