John Baron MP officially opens the First World War exhibition at The Billericay Reading Rooms

John at the exhibition with the Trustees, local school children and Volunteers

MP joins Trustees and local schools

Today John Baron MP joined the Billericay Reading Rooms’ Trustees and local schools at the Reading Rooms, High Street, Billericay who are holding an exhibition to mark the centenary of the First World War. The Trustees of the Rooms have received £6,700 from the HLF under the First World War: Then and Now programme. This has enabled four local Billericay schools, [Buttsbury Junior School, St John’s School, St Peter’s Catholic Primary School and Quilters Junior School] to focus on specific aspects of the War and its effects on the local Community. The exhibition will enable local people in Billericay to come together over this weekend [6th-8th March] to preserve the memories and heritage of the people who lived through the War. Keith Wood, Andy Maddocks and Sheila Pullen led the Billericay Reading Rooms team in organising the event.

John said:

“Our congratulations go to Keith, Andy, Sheila and the rest of the Billericay Reading Rooms team for hosting this excellent exhibition. It is important we remember the sacrifice of previous generations, and how the war affected everyone in our communities, in realising how lucky we are today. The involvement of our younger generation helps to ensure the lessons are not forgotten.”

Andy Maddocks, Grants Trustee at the Reading Rooms who led the drive to secure Funding said:

“We are extremely grateful to the Heritage Lottery Fund for their continued support, which enables us to continue working with the pupils and Teachers of the four schools in another very worthwhile and important Project.”

Notes to Editors

1. Groups who wish to apply for HLF funding for a World War One project they should go to: www.hlf.org.uk/thenandnow
2. Each of the four schools are presenting separate aspects of the time, covering the production of a newspaper during the wartime period, Nutrition- availability of food both at home and on the battlefields, Fashions of the period including uniforms and the ability to obtain material etc and finally Residents of Billericay at that time, including Businesses in and around the Town- have any survived? The pupils have undertaken research in order to obtain photographs, documents, letters and newspaper clippings.