Our Basildon

It’s Bike week soon, so to celebrate join the Our Basildon team on 23rd June and discover the hidden gems of Basildon on this guided bike tour! It starts 10 am at the new Basildon Sporting village and riders can at their own pace.

Get on your bike! For more information, please follow the link below:

http://www.bikeweek.org.uk/event_search.php?pagemode=display&event_id=639&postcode=&distance=-1&category=-1&county=39&fee=any&child=any

We are delighted to announce that The Local Strategic Partnership has awarded a Certificate to The Foundation for Essex Arts Limited to ‘ Recognise the Commitment of our Volunteers”.

In return we must thank you, our volunteers, for making it possible for us to both carry out and continue this important work both in the local and regional community, for without your help none of what we have achieved so far would have been possible.  

A very big thank you. Vin Harrop, Director, OUR BASILDON.

The leader of an arts group is pleased a water fountain has been moved to a more visible site.
The Pineapple Fountain, which was situated outside Trafford House, Station Way, Basildon, has been moved as part of redevelopment plans happening at the former Ford headquarters.
The Foundation for Essex Arts had feared the fountain designed by William Mitchell in 1975 would be thrown away or put into storage.

However, following discussions with developers Colonnade, the fountain will be put on the corner of Station Way and Cherrydown East, where two restaurants are set to be built.
Foundation director Vin Harrop said “Where the fountain was situated, no one could really see it”.

“So if it goes to a more public area, it will be seen by far more people in Basildon and it will give pleasure to those watching the world go by in the restaurants”

BASILDON ECHO, WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 23, 2011

Mystery is solved: Homer was stolen

Arts group’s hunt for valuable statue ends with news he was taken 16 years ago

THE long-running mystery over the whereabouts of a missing Basildon sculpture has been solved- it was stolen, officials have revealed.

Local heritage group Our Basildon has spent ages trying to track down a six-foot bronze statute of the Greek poet and philosopher, Homer, which used to stand in the town centre. Its disappearance 16 years ago from Basildon Council’s Brooke House flats tower, seemed a profound mystery.

Now council officials have lifted the lid and admitted it was stolen, The artwork, was commissioned by Basildon Development Corporation in 1958 and made by Irish sculptor Frederick Edward Williams, who was paid £2,000.

Our Basildon recently took a fresh look at previous research by artists Robert Worely, which showed Homer moved around the town quite a bit down the years.
At one time, he sat in the old Towngate Theatre, though he also spent time in Southgate House, in Town Square.

Our Basildon director Vin Harrop was disappointed to learn the statue had been stolen and hoped other local sculptures would be better looked after. He added: “It’s a great shame, because it was a really good piece of art. We now have to protect what art we’ve still got. It does worry me, as I’, not entirely sure whose job at the council it is to be looking after it”.

A council spokesman confirmed the sculpture was stolen ten years ago, but added the plinth still remained in Brooke House. He added:”the reason we haven’t replaced it, basically, is because there is nothing suitable to replace it with. There are other statues, but we have looked at them and come to the view none of these is really all that suitable to replace the Homer statue”

Comment: Williams often cast five of a kind, but in the case of Homer only three were cast. He always kept the plaster casts so had Basildon Council claimed on their insurance policy they could have replaced Homer with another of the same. F.E. Williams died in 2009 so it is too late replace this much loved and cherished work of art. A great loss to Basildon’s urban culture. At today’s prices Homer is worth £150,000.

ECHO, Friday February 18, 2011

A golden age for sculptures

The welcome emergence of the sculpture park in Leeds for the work of Henry Moore and one to celebrate the work of Barbara Hepworth, the Hepworth Wakefield opening in May, has created a growing acceptance on the part of municipal planners and town councillors that sculpture can galvanise communities.
The Angel of the North, for instance, is now firmly established as a totem for the North East of England.
I believe that we are living through a golden age of British sculpture looking pristine once more for public art in a new town can be a real tourist attraction.

Vin Harrop

This could be the name of a new Christmas Number 1 if two schools and a sheltered housing scheme in Basildon have their way.

Inspired by the huge popularity and success of a reminiscence project involving both young and old, representatives from two local secondary schools and a sheltered housing scheme are three participating organisations that are now developing another exciting community initiative, prompted by their own involvement in the Our Memories project as delivered by the ‘Our Basildon’ team across the town in November last year.

This enthusiastic collective have been motivated to continue the excellent results of the intergenerational reminiscence programme, and work together to lead the development and creation of a concept CD based on peoples’ memories of the origination and development of the town. The anticipated title derives from the address of the first residents to move in.

The ‘Our Basildon’ Project Director, Lisa Hawker says “we are so excited that the many people, both young and not so young who have been involved in capturing the spirit of Basildon in ‘Our Memories’ have inspired this CD. It was very important that the evident success of last year’s project wasn’t lost, and it’s wonderful that some of the important organisations involved in working with us then, still feel so motivated to see the obvious benefits carried on, providing opportunities for all. We are privileged to be able to support them”

Deputy Head of Woodlands, Alan Morgan together with Eileen Prizeman, Community Cohesion Co-ordinator at De La Salle and Michelle O’Toole, scheme co-ordinator for St Georges Community Housing at Riverview Court Sheltered Scheme are all waiting to hear from members of the public. Michelle  explains “Whether you want to have your memories and experiences recorded, help with composition and lyrics, play an instrument or get involved in any other way, we want to hear from you. “

The Musical Director will be James Lovelock, Head of Music at Woodlands who also composed and wrote `Life as Normal` for the National Health Service. He is enthusiastic about this project “because  it will engage our young musicians and singers with people who have a wealth of knowledge and talent in a genuinely collaborative venture.  I am confident that the resulting CD will be a lasting testament to both Basildon`s past and creativity across the generations. With a concert performance of the results also in the offing we want as many people involved with a love of Music and History in whatever capacity. Let`s show everyone what Basildon has to offer and the journey we`ve been on since those early days of the new town.”

The De La Salle students are equally excited to be part of this new project. Eileen Prizeman, Community Cohesion Co-ordinator says “The enthusiasm and friendship that was generated through the ‘Our Memories’ project, gave our Senior Citizens a feeling of belonging. Equally, the students were also very appreciative of the knowledge they received from them. This new project enables all people of all ages to be involved and share their talents and stories with each other. This is a great opportunity for all the community to be cohesive and put Basildon on the map.”

All participants in the previous Our Memories project will, without exception be invited to take part but it is important that opportunities are extended, even more so that the multi-cultural nature of Basildon as it is now is really reflected in the CD; ethnic groups in particular are warmly welcomed to get in touch, but the opportunities are open for everyone over 60.

Please call Alan Morgan on 01268 282146; Eileen Prizeman on 01268 281234; Michelle O’Toole on 01268 557508 or email lisa@ourbasildon.org to take part.

The Our Basildon Heritage Trail has been given a temporary route in Gloucester Park until April 2011, which is due to the Sporting Village being built at the north end of the Park. Basildon has a rich sporting heritage and the Sporting Village will become the best sports and leisure facility in the East of England Therefore once it’s built it will also be an important part of the Basildon Heritage Trail. So for now please keep a look out for the new temporary signs which direct you around this part of the Trail.

For further information on the Our Basildon Heritage Trail or our many other developing initiatives, please call: 01277 630760