MAY 2001

THE NEWSLETTER

The first issue of "The Resident" was circulated in May 1978 following the merger of the Buttsbury Residents’ Association and the Billericay Residents’ Association to form the Billericay District Residents’ Association. It also superseded the Buttsbury News and The Mayflower the newsletters of the two previous Associations. In those days the newsletter was produced by an editorial committee consisting of four members of the Association, one from each area – East, West and Burstead and the Co-Ordinating Editor.

Nowadays there is no editorial committee, the articles are researched and written by the editor who also composes the master copy which is then sent to the printers where 7200 copies are produced. These copies are counted individually to ensure that each Area Representative (AR) receives sufficient copies for his or her area and at the same time about 70% of the advertising supplements are collated with the main body of the newsletter. On receiving the newsletter the AR allocates a specified number to each Road Representative (RR), of whom there are 174, to deliver to members of the Association. All of these people are unpaid volunteers each with their own responsibilities and interests, it is not surprising therefore if, occasionally, the newsletter is not delivered in time to book a trip or is not delivered at all. Whilst this is an inconvenience to our members I ask them to be considerate and understanding for there is very little I can do to rectify the situation except, perhaps, to suggest that they offer to become Road Representatives and deliver the newsletter. Alternatively it would be helpful to have a list of people who would be willing to help occasionally when, for instance, one of our regular helpers is ill or on holiday. Please consider this suggestion seriously because at present it is more often than not the AR and committee members who have to plug the gap. One can of course visit the noticeboards in the High Street, Gooseberry Green and Somerfields at Queens Park where the newsletter is usually displayed from about the 2^nd or 3^rd day of the month.

Probably the people most affected by the late delivery of the newsletter are those who wish to go on a trip consequently it was decided that no bookings would be taken for any event until it had been advertised, however people are still complaining that trips are full when they ring to book a seat. It’s like trying to get a quart into a pint pot. The newsletter is delivered to 7,200 households whilst at the most there are two buses, 114 seats, for each trip, occasionally there have been three buses but that makes life difficult for the organisers, so someone isn’t going to get a seat. Nevertheless Dave and Barbara Osborn, the trip organisers, believe the situation will be improved if no bookings are taken for new trips before the 10^th day of each month, see back page, by which time everyone should have received their copy of the newsletter. Please do not try to book seats at one minute past midnight on the 10^th day of the month, remember 7086 of you are not going to get a seat!!!!

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Lest ye forget. The Annual General Meeting of the Billericay District Residents’ Association will be held on Friday 18^th May 2001 in the Canon Roche Hall, Laindon Road, Billericay at 8.00pm. This year there will be no guest speaker, the event will be more of a social evening and after the business of the meeting has been concluded light refreshments will be served. Here is an excellent opportunity to renew old acquaintances, make new friends, talk with the people who produce and distribute the newsletter and organise the trips. It is also a good time to make known your views on the Association, what issues it should be involved in and what its future role should be.

CRUNCH TIME

The Crunch will be visiting the following locations between the hours of 9.00am and 12.00 noon :-

This service is unsuitable for oil, paint and other waste liquids, please speak to the driver about disposing of these items. Telephone 01268 294949 for information regarding recycling and other waste disposal facilities.

BILLERICAY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY – Larry Powles writes for The Resident

Now is the time, or should be, that all good gardeners regard as the beginning of the planting out season for their annual garden bedding displays. Many retailers of garden annuals are hopeful that you have bought and planted your summer display, with luck there could be a late frost which will mean that a second batch will have to be bought. More profit for them.

Most commercial growers of garden plants, together with we amateurs who raise our own seedlings, use soil-less compounds for this purpose. These consist of a mixture of peat and grit or sharp sand with perhaps a little lime and the necessary fertilisers. Such a mixture retains moisture, lets in air to the root formation and is free from soil borne infections.

These soil-less composts often have a peculiar effect when the young plants are set out in their flowering positions. When the plants are discarded in the late Autumn (or lifted for wintering in a greenhouse) the root system will not have expanded much outside the original peat compost. It is as if the plant has been afraid to venture into the world of common garden soil which surrounds it.

Overcome this reluctance by putting a handful of peat and a little fertiliser into the hole that has been dug for the plant. Not only will they be healthier but with their bigger root system they will withstand any dry spell much better. Camels have large feet but they have to "tank up" before they go walkabout.

The Horticultural Society has a plant sale in the Reading Rooms on Saturday 12^th May commencing at 8.30am. On Monday 1^st May the monthly meeting will be held in the Day Centre at 8.00pm.

PEDALLING FOR POUNDS

Alfie Swann of Whinhams Way, Billericay is to make a 460km bicycle ride through Vietnam to raise money for MIND the mental health charity. He will travel with a group of 100 cyclists to the city of Saigon and then to the Marble Mountains a journey which will take about 10 days in what promises to be the trip of a lifetime. Alfie is more likely to be found behind the wheel of a car teaching people to drive than on a two wheeled bicycle, he is the owner of Basildon Driving centre and has never before ridden a "bike". Consequently he has bought himself a "mean machine" and is now devoting time to training to get himself fit for the occasion with a routine of swimming, cycling and jogging sessions.

Mr Swann hopes to raise £2,500 for MIND which will go to finance the charity’s work with people who suffer with mental health problems. If you would like to sponsor Alfie call 01277 655714 or 07929 293760. To find out more about the ride call 0870 0129001 or e-mail vietnam@mind.org or visit its website at www.vietnam.org.uk

STREETCARE

If a street lamp in your area is not working then ring the Operational Services of Basildon District Council on 01268 294995. You will need to give them the number of the lamp standard and its position. The Council is seeking to improve its service by installing a computer based mapping information system in the Operational Services Department. This should be of great assistance to the staff who will consequently be able to pin point more accurately the location of faulty apparatus.

BRIGHTSIDE SCHOOL REMEMBERS Mr GRANATH

A group of former teachers, parents and pupils from Brightside Infant and Junior Schools in Billericay are planning a memorial for Bill Granath who was the first Head Teacher of both schools. Bill Granath had been Head Teacher of Brightside Junior School for fourteen years when he retired 1985. He died in November last year at his home near Woodbridge in Suffolk. Former pupils, parents and teachers are asked to recall any memory of Mr Granath which will form part of a collection to be passed on to the family. Also it is planned to present to Brightside School a permanent memorial in celebration of Bill Granath’s achievements at the school.

Donations and written memories can be placed in a box at the Sunnyville Post Office, 6 Bridge Parade, Perry Streeet, Gooseberry Green, Billericay. Any cheques should be made payable to "Mr Granath Memorial Fund". To talk through a memory and for further information please contact Anne Ellis on 01277 840821 or e-mail on ronandanneellis@btinternet.com

SATURDAY 23 JUNE – FAB 2001 – Once again the delightful church of St Mary Magdalene at Great Burstead is organising FAB, the Festival At Burstead. There will be a concert on Friday evening and special services.

The biggest part of the event, on Saturday 23 June from 11.00am to 4.00pm in the church and grounds, will include a wide variety of arena events and stalls plus many other attractions including a fancy dress competition, craft fayre and art exhibition. This year the theme of the Festival will be "Musicals with particular emphasis on Gilbert & Sullivan". The celebrity guest will be the internationally renowned artist, Valerie Masterton CBE.

For anyone interested in old churches and church architecture this very attractive and historic church (the oldest parts of which date from the 12^th century) will be open to visitors on Sunday afternoon from 3.00pm to 5.00pm till September.

BILLERICAY OPERATIC SOCIETY will be performing the musical CHESS at the Civic Theatre, Chelmsford from 22 MAY to 26 MAY at 7.45pm. Saturday matinee at 2.00pm. Featuring the hits "I Know Him So Well" and "One Night in Bangkok". Music by Benny Anderson & Bjorn Ulvaeus, Lyrics by Tim Rice. Please call 01245 606505. Tickets £7.50 to £9.50, no booking fees. All proceeds from raffle will go to Anvil Trust.

SATURDAY 2 JUNE– BILLERICAY LIONS LADIES – SUMMER CRAFT SALE in the Recreation Rooms 73 High Street, Billericay from 9.00am to 1.00pm. Admisson 50p. All profit on the day to The Burned Children’s Club. Please support the Billericay Lions Ladies in their project this year.

STOCK DRAMA GROUP present "Outside Edge" a cricketing comedy by Richard Harris at STOCK VILLAGE HALL on WEDNESDAY 23 MAY to SATURDAY 26 MAY at 8.00pm.Tickets cost £5.00, concessions £4.00 except Saturday and can be obtained from Choc-o-Box, Holly Court, Billericay and Porters Newsagents, The Square, Stock. Enquiries ring 01277 654267 or 01277 657341.

BILLERICAY RECORDED MUSIC SOCIETY meets at The Fold 72, Laindon Road, Billericay at 8.00pm.

FRIDAY 8 JUNE – "Bring a Friend Night"

BILLERICAY ARTS ASSOCIATION, THE FOLD, 72 LAINDON ROAD, BILLERICAY. TEL. 01277 659286

SATURDAY 19 MAY at 7.30pm – THE MANASSE DUO. Tickets £6.00. Harpist, Helen Cole makes a welcome return to The Fold, on this occasion with flautist Robert Manasse. Their programme will include the Bax sonata for flute and harp Ibert’s Entr’acte and music by Bach and Debussy.

SATURDAY 9 JUNE – JUNGLE BOOK. Few stories have become such a part of culture as Kipling’s Jungle Book. This production, charts the journey to maturity of Mowgli, gives the whole audience chance to sing along and children aged 5 years and up to take part. Book soon to make certain of your seats.

THE RESIDENT is published by Billericay District Residents' Association Editor - Trevor Stansfield, 174 Perry Sreet, Billericay, Essex CM12 0NX. Tel: 623519 E-mail:vice.chairman@bdra.org
 Printed by New Realm Design, Fortune Works, Wash Road, Laindon, Basildon, Essex

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