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Focus on The Arts & Crafts
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Billericay’s Arts Centre
The Fold, housed in an attractive Victorian
school building in Laindon Road, is the
focal point for anyone who has an
interest in the arts. It provides the opportunity
to hone artistic skills or just enjoy the
entertainment on offer. Everybody is welcome.
There are art exhibitions and a seasonal
programme of professional performances of
drama and music of different genres. The
intimacy of The Fold makes it a popular venue
for performers from post graduates of The
Royal College of Music to jazz musicians of
world-wide repute. Children flock to
pantomime and other dedicated shows staged
during half-term holidays. The events are
popular and, with limited seating, advanced
booking is advisable.
Term time classes for adults and children are
available in a wide range of subjects including
painting, drawing, pottery and a variety of crafts.
Twenty six independent clubs and organisations
meet regularly at The Fold, making a valuable
contribution to the number and variety of the
activities available.
For thirty years this arts centre has been run by
the dedicated volunteers of Billericay Arts
association and they would be very glad of your
company. If you want to broaden your interests
and have some time regularly available then
offer your services. The work is rewarding and
can be fun. You don’t have to be arty!
Why not visit the website www.baathefold.org.uk
to get details of the classes, clubs and
entertainment currently on offer It is not
necessary to join the Association but members
have the benefit of regular news sheets and of
reduced class fees and ticket prices.
The Fold, 72 Laindon Road, Billericay CM12
9LD. 01277 659286.
Billericay Cantabile Singers
Ihated having to do music at school – being
made to sing when I could have been playing
sport. I couldn’t read music, had no idea
what a middle C was supposed to sound like,
and had a teacher who kept making us do it
again and again. Imagine my surprise when I
won the School Prize for Music!
I did eventually come to enjoy singing –
primarily as a result of my passion for playing
rugby – with the collective singing skills much
enhanced by a good result on the pitch, a hot
bath and a beer or two.
When my rugby playing days came to an end,
singing became limited to a crowd sing-along of
“Swing Low Sweet Chariot” at rugby
internationals and leading the family in a
raucous rendition of “The Quartermasters
Store” when travelling long distances.
Then about a year ago, I noticed in the paper
that a local choir was in need of more members
– particularly men, and I thought,” why not”.
The Billericay Cantabile Singers rehearse on a
Monday evening at 8:00, at the Mayflower Hall
on Chapel Street and perform publicly 2 or 3
times a year.
I hesitantly went along to the next rehearsal and
had the instant impact of doubling the number
of bass singers. Soon after joining in, it was
evident that I may be singing all the right notes,
but not necessarily in the right order (apologies
to Morecambe and Wise). Apparently, songs have
4 parts and I’m only supposed to sing 1 of them!
However singing with the choir was great fun
and quite addictive so I went back for more.
Whilst I am getting better, and can probably
recognise a middle C, I still can’t read music,
and do not fully understand all the little
squiggles and funny foreign words. But I am
forgiving of the musical director who makes us
go over things again and again, because – when
26 Billericay Town Guide