Dates for your Diary

We want you to help the Basildon Borough Heritage Group commemorate the centenary of World War 1. We have a diverse range of events and activities planned for the 4 years of the centenary - linking with Basildon's twinning towns of Heilienghaus in Germany and Meaux in France. 

Laurent Guillaume from Meaux Twinning and the Mayor of Heiligenhaus

If you would like to get involved or find out more about our projects check out our diary of events listed below

Dates for your diary

Basildon

23rd July - Unknown Soldier WW1 word memorial workshop at The Laboratory Art Studio at Wat Tyler Country Park

4th August - 10pm switching off lights and lighting candles. "lights go out all over Europe and we won't see them alight again in our lifetime. " again in our lifetime. " Lighting of The Queens Elizabeth Beacon 

3rd August – Basildon Borough Heritage Group, Lee Chapel North –  Display local history

4th August - Celebrities versus Wickford Cricket Club Cricket Match

6th August - Create a Dazzle Ship workshop at The laboratory at Wat Tyler Country Park

17th August - Bowers Gifford, West Lake Park Display of photographs of the

area 1914-1960.

20th August - Create a loom band poppy field for Wat Tyler a Country Park at The Laboratory Art Studio

13th/14th September 2014 Barleylands Country Show  – Display of Basildon at War.

27^th September - launch of Forget Never, Oublier Jamias, Vergessen Niemals exhibition at The Green Centre, Wat Tyler Country Park

example exhibits

6th December - Christmas Concert at St Martin’s Church

Meaux

11th - 12th September - project meeting December -  Launch of Forget Never,  Oublier Jamias, Vergessen Niemals  exhibition venue TBC

12th - 13th December re-enactment of  the famous Boxing Day football match in Meaux

Heiligenhaus

15th - 17th August - planning meeting for young people’s conference November - Launch of Forget Never,  Oublier Jamias, Vergessen Niemals  exhibition venue TBC 

Please contact Project Manager Lisa Smith at the_laboratory@hotmail.co.uk

One of our core projects is to establish a mobile exhibition of what life was like in the three towns during The Great War, launching at Wat Tyler Country Park - September 2014

You can help by:

* Exhibiting your photographs from World War 1. These could be of family members or of around the town during WW1

* Bring in any artefacts, posters, literature etc. you may have from WW1 to The Basildon Borough

Group for documentation and with your permission, exhibition

* Poetry, short stories, biographies you have written about The Great War

* Artwork (including drawings, collages, paintings, sculpture etc) you have created to commemorate The Great War

Basildon borough is commemorating the First World War with a series of events starting from the summer of 2014 and continuing into 2018 - here is a brietf listing of some of the events planned this year.
Saturday 2 to Monday 4 August
World War One exhibition
Billericay Town Council is organising an WW1 exhibition at Mary Magdalen Church, High Street, Billericay.
It will feature displays of information, projects and memorabilia provided by local schools and community groups about WW1.
Monday 4 August 2014 at 11am
Borough-wide Commemorations
Functions will held across the borough to commemorate Britain's declaration of war, with books containing the names of all of the borough's fallen service people presented.
Books will then be on display at the Basildon Heritage Exhibition at Wat Tyler Country Park.
Memorial sites across the borough. More details on activities in Basildon, Laindon, Pitsea, Wickford and Billericay to follow...
Sunday 3 & Monday 4 August
World War One discussion & evening service
To be held at St Mary Magdalen, Billericay and organised by Rev. P. Carr and Churches Together in Billericay
Featuring music and a talk from an eminent historian about how a local family was affected by the outbreak of WW1 on Sunday.
On Monday 4th August an evening service will be held. More details to follow...
Saturday 9 August
 Basildon Town Centre March
Cadets and veterans will march through the town centre giving the whole community an opportunity to come together to mark the start of the war.
Sunday 17 August
  Basildon Heritage Society
  Bowers Gifford, West Lake Park - Photographic display of the area 1914-1960
  For more information please visit the Basildon Heritage Society webpageOpens new window
Monday 25 August
Noon to 4pm
 St Mary's Church Open Day (Opposite The Crown Harvester, Dry Street)
 In memory of World War One Centenary and Chelmsford Diocese Centenary
Listen to Church Bells at 2.00pm
Sing-a-long - 1^st World War Songs
Children's Activities
Presentation of Role of Honour of 1^st World War at 3pm
Home Made Cakes
Tea/Coffee
For more information contact Judy Pusey on 07980 51296.
Throughout the summer 2014
World War One Wat Tyler Exhibition 
The exhibition room at Wat Tyler will host a collection of artefacts which link the Borough and its residents to WW1.
More details about each of these events to be announced shortly.
Saturday 13 & Sunday 14 September

Basildon Heritage Society
Barleylands County Show - Display of Basildon at War

Saturday 27 September
Basildon Heritage Society
Exhibition covering the Great War will be held at Green Centre, Wat Tyler Country Park.

Friday 24 to Sunday 26 October 2014
Towngate Theatre Production - Lest We Forget - A World War One CommemorationThe Basildon Players will perform a "review" in the Towngate's Mirren Studio, drawing on extracts from WW1 related material, as well as some original content inspired by local history. This is an amateur production lasting approx. 2 hours. All profit from this production will be donated to Royal British Legion, one of the Mayor's chosen charities.
  Performance times
  · Friday 24th October 2014 @ 7pm
  · Saturday 25th October 2014 @ 2pm
  · Saturday 25th October 2014 @ 7pm
  · Sunday 26th October 2014 @ 2pm
   Further details and booking informationOpens new window
See more information on Basildon Councils events by clicking the following link:
http://www.basildon.gov.uk/article/5207/World-War-One-Centenary-Events-2014-2018