READY TO TAKE OFF - LATEST FROM THE FUN WALK TRUST - CATCH UP WITH US?

 

With September now upon us, the trustees of The Fun Walk Trust are delighted by the response to this year’s walk and wish all participants every success in their fundraising efforts.

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

“The Fun Walk team and I wish the 80 organisations and thousands of supporters every success during their fundraising walks in September. We are thrilled to see such a fantastic community response again this year – it shows great spirit and with £35,000 in the Bonus Pot, we hope this will be another record-breaking year, raising vital funds and increasing awareness for a wide range of worthy causes..”

 “As ever, we thank the local businesses and people who have so far generously supported this year’s Bonus Pot. These include Brown & Carroll (London), Sanctuary Housing Association, One Footstep, Tunnelcraft Ltd, Butyl Products Group, c2c Rail Ltd, Equi Ltd, Barrie and Marilyn Stone, and other individuals including the trustees. The Bonus Pot once again showcases the strong community spirit of local businesses”

 It’s not too late for other local charities and community groups to join the event, please register at  www.thefunwalktrust.co.uk.

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About the Fun Walk:

 

What began as a tribute to the Queen’s Golden Jubilee in 2002 quickly blossomed into something extraordinary. Spearheaded by John Baron MP and his dedicated team, the very first Fun Walk raised £6,000 for six inspiring charities and community projects. It was more than just a walk—it was a movement in the making.

Year after year, the Fun Walk grew and in 2013 it was time to become a registered charity: The Fun Walk Trust (Charity No. 1151626).

John Baron CBE remains at the helm as Chair of Trustees, rallying support from generous local businesses to build the amazing Bonus Pot—a fundraising multiplier that adds extra magic to every step.

Thanks to a great team of volunteers, much of the admin for holding a sponsored walk is provided to participating groups, allowing them to focus on what matters most: raising sponsorship money and enjoying their walks.

And it’s not just for registered charities—any community-minded cause, once approved, is welcome! From schools and churches to grassroots community groups, the Fun Walk is open to all.

In 2020, facing the challenges of COVID-19, the Trust didn’t miss a beat. The event transformed into a remote format, empowering supporters to walk wherever and whenever they could during the month of September. It was a hit—and the flexibility and inclusivity of the virtual format continues to this day.

In 2025 walkers and Bonus Pot sponsors came together in record-breaking form – raising £121,024 including an amazing 35% bonus from the Fun Walk Bonus Pot. This total pushed the amount raised by the Fun Walk since 2002 to a phenomenal £1,750,000, benefitting hundreds of local charities and projects over the years.

 Our current Trustees are John Baron (chair), Sandra Bastow, Christine Brewster, Sylvia Kent, and Professor Michael Almond—and they continue to steer this cherished organisation with passion and pride.

ANOTHER SET OF CONGRATULATIONS TO LOUISE ANDERSON IN PERSHORE

 

HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO ELIZABETH WALLACE FOR PRODUCING A SUPERB NEW VERSION OF HER EARLIER BEST SELLER

 

30 Exceptional Places to Visit in England…Off the Beaten Track by Elizabeth Wallace (Author)  Format: Kindle Edition

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Discover the England most travellers never find.

Beyond London's famous landmarks lies a quieter, stranger, more captivating England — one of Viking battlefields and smugglers' tunnels, of witches and wool merchants, of castles that shaped the Magna Carta and churchyards that connect directly to the founding of America.

30 Exceptional Places to Visit in England…Off the Beaten Track is a personal guide to thirty remarkable villages and towns in the historic Home Counties of Essex, Kent, and East Sussex. Written by English-born author Elizabeth Victoria Wallace, this is not a list of tourist attractions — it is an invitation into the real history, legend, and character of places most guidebooks ignore.

Walk the hill where Lawrence Washington, great-great-grandfather of America's first President, was driven from his pulpit. Explore the ancient wooden church that sheltered the body of a martyred Saxon king. Stand on the shore at Pevensey where William the Conqueror's invasion changed England forever. Discover the village that inspired John Harvard to found a university, and the quiet Essex town where Gustav Holst composed The Planets.

Each chapter pairs rich storytelling with practical travel information — what to see, where to eat, where to stay — making this both a compelling read and an indispensable companion for the discerning traveller.

Perfect for: Anglophiles, history lovers, travellers planning a UK trip, and anyone who wants to experience England beyond the obvious.

BRENTWOOD WRITERS' CIRCLE 85TH CELEBRATIONS

 Many thanks to our friends, families and colleagues for help in celebrating Brentwood Writers' Circle's 85th birthday recently.  Here we have just half of our regular members, so hoping to snap the rest of them later in the year. Great news that our membership is growing, year by year plus the news that many of our authors are seeing their books published via Amazon. Do take a peep at www.brentwoodwriterscircle.com and check out our amazing history which began on 1 May 1941. 

BRENTWOOD WRITERS' CIRCLE - LAUNCHING MEMBERS' NEW BOOKS

 It was good to see new faces at Brentwood's Bardswell Social Club on Saturday last, particularly as Jim Reeve - one of our longest serving members -  launched his brand new book The Survivor's Daughter.  Jim is probably best known for his non-fiction books relating to Essex - still popular and available at Waterstones' stores, so this new title really is a change in style and genre.