SAD NEWS ABOUT OUR FRIEND JANET HOWSON

Such a sad time for friends and family of our lovely Janet who lived in Brentwood.  Janet passed away last week. She was a talented writer who was always so cheerful and helpful to fellow authors in both her writing clubs. She will be sadly missed.  

CELEBRATIONS COMING UP - WATCH THIS SPACE

 

25 years of walking together: The Fun Walk Trust celebrates a quarter century of supporting Essex good causes

 The Trustees are thrilled by the fantastic community response.

A landmark 25th walk saw thousands of supporters come together across Essex, continuing a fundraising journey that has raised more than £1.75 million for local charities and community groups. There was something special about this year’s Fun Walk as families, volunteers and supporters across Essex came together to participate in this year’s Fun Walk and to celebrate 25 years of walking for good causes.

 From its humble beginnings in 2002, when John Baron and his team established the walk to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee and raised £6,000 for six local charities, the event has grown into one of Essex’s much-loved community fundraising initiatives. With the 2025 Fun Walk bringing the total raised to more than £1.75 million for a wide range of local charities and community organisations across Essex and beyond. And it continues to grow. The 2026 Fun Walk brought together around 80 charities, community groups and good causes, all united by the same simple idea: enjoy a walk together in September, raise money and make a difference.

 This year’s walk once again saw families and friends form teams, community groups rally their supporters, and charity fundraisers proudly wear their colours. And behind every walk was a personal story and a good cause that mattered.

 One of the event's most distinctive features is the Bonus Pot, supported by generous local businesses and individuals. Donations to the Bonus Pot are distributed among participating organisations on a pro-rata basis, depending on and in addition to the sponsorship money they raise themselves.

 In 2025, the Bonus Pot provided a 35% uplift for each participating organisation, helping them to raise more than £121,000 in total – a record amount. For the 2026 Fun Walk, the Bonus Pot reached £35,000 ahead of the September walks – once again demonstrating the generosity of the local business community and individuals. 

While the September walks may be complete, the 25th anniversary celebrations are not over. Attention now turns to the Fun Walk's forthcoming Celebration Evening, when participating organisations and sponsors will come together to celebrate the achievements of the past year. The evening will also provide an opportunity to recognise the extraordinary contribution made by everyone who has supported the Fun Walk over its 25-year history. A major highlight will be the announcement of the 2026 Bonus Pot uplift each participating organisation will receive and the total monies raised. 

John Baron, chairman of The Fun Walk Trustees, said:

“To reach the 25th Fun Walk is a great achievement, and all can be very proud of what the community has created together. When we started the Fun Walk in 2002, we did not imagine that a simple sponsored walk would by 2025 go on to raise more than £1.75 million for local charities and good causes. However, the real success of the Fun Walk is not measured only by the monies raised. It is the people who take part, the causes they support and the sense of community that the event creates each year.”

 “My thanks go to every walker, charity, community group, supporter, sponsor and volunteer who has played a part in our journey – including our trustees Sandra Bastow, Christine Brewster, Sylvia Kent, and Professor Michael Almond. We also thank those who have supported the 2026 Bonus Pot, including Brown & Carroll (London), Sanctuary Housing Association, One Footstep, Tunnelcraft Ltd, Butyl Products Group, c2c Railway Ltd, Equi Ltd, Barrie and Marilyn Stone, and others.”

 “We look forward to bringing everyone together at our forthcoming Celebration Evening to recognise what has been achieved.”

 More details can be found on the Fun Walk Trust website:  www.thefunwalktrust.co.uk

TOMORROW'S MEETING IN BRENTWOOD AT BARDSWELL CLUB

 Brentwood Writers' Circle annual Writers' Day is all set for a bumper gathering at Bardswell Club in Weald Road with two fabulous guest speakers, excellent lunch  and a full house.  Still time though to book a place - contact 07543878064 

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.

ABOUT OUR 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.