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times small groups follow their own paths of
research, there has been a cellar count of
buildings in the High Street and recently some
members have been researching Little Burstead.
Attendance is usually about 70 members. Visitors
are welcome; we hope that once you have been to
a meeting you will want to join the society.
We meet at the Fold on the second Monday of
the month at 8pm. We have a yearly
subscription, the meetings are free to members,
but we ask visitors to make a donation to funds.
Twice a year we produce a newsletter to which
some members contribute articles of an
archaeological or historical interest.
Billericay BPW
The ‘BPW’ stands for Business and
Professional Women, which was the
name of the original club which started
in America in the 1930s, spread to the UK soon
afterwards and arrived in Billericay in 1957. One
of our founder members, Sylvia Hathaway, is
still part of the club and was presented with her
50th anniversary brooch at our golden
anniversary lunch in 2007.
We are part of a worldwide organisation whose
aim is to encourage every woman to achieve her
potential whether in the workplace, at home or
in life.
BPW UK lobbies government on issues affecting
women, girls and families and is also part of
consultative bodies which focus these subjects.
You can find out more about the organisation
on our website – www.bpwuk.co.uk
Here in Billericay, we helped to set up the
Women’s Refuge in Basildon in which we still
retain an interest. We hold a local heat each year
as part of our national Public Speaking
Competition and annually give the Molly Perry
Award to girls from local schools going on to
study a science subject at university.
We are very proud that one of our members,
Ann Wiseall was BPW UK National President
2005-2007 and another, Gwenne Martin, is
currently National Finance Officer. But we are
not just a ‘business’ organisation; we do have
fun, too. We meet at 7.45 pm on the 1st and 3rd
Thursdays of the month in Gallery 2 at the Fold.
We have speakers and discussions on a wide
range of topics and we also like eating together,
going to the theatre and socialising.
If you’re interested in finding out more about
BPW Billericay, please join us one Thursday
evening. We hope to meet or hear from you, soon.
Billericay Chess Club
The club was formed in early 1978 when
two members of the Brentwood Club
made some enquiries to ascertain what
support there would be for a chess club in the
town. Following a favourable response to
advertisements placed around the town a
meeting was arranged to set up the club. One
potential member of the club was also a member
of Billericay Cricket Club, which then met at
their ground in Mountnessing Road. By using
his contacts arrangements were made for us to
meet initially in their pavilion. Three weekly
meetings were held there; the club moving to the
Archer Hall Annex in Laindon Road, thanks to
the good offices of another member. Soon after
Billericay Arts Association was formed we
changed venue again this time to their
headquarters in The Fold, then in the centre of
town; moving with them to their new venue in
the former Quilters school in 1994. Initial strong
support allowed us to run four teams entering in
both the Essex and North Essex Chess Leagues.
We still have two teams, both in the North Essex
League. League chess involves travelling to
various venues in Essex on a home and away
basis. Highlights for the club include winning
12 Billericay Town Guide