Our Basildon

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

Once in a lifetime if you are lucky you might come across someone who is both brave and good, someone who is a little bit out of the ordinary; someone who impresses you from the outset.  In our case working on the Our Basildon, Our Memories project, 2009 that person was Albert Leaver whom we came across just by chance.

Albert had an amazing recall of early childhood memories, which included a vivid account of him seeing a German Zeppelin falling to the ground during the First World War, and of life growing up in Bow east London. But it was his move to Basildon and his years of working for Carreras Ltd and bringing up a family in the New Town that we found particularly pertinent, and in that regard Albert was our star player.

Like so many other new town pioneers, Albert was brave to uproot and make a new life for himself and his family in Basildon, and the memories that he told of those early years proved fascinating, especially for the young people of De La Salle School. But for Albert it was his faith that always saw him through, a faith that lead him to become a founder of the United Reformed Church, Honeypot Lane and a pillar of the local community. He was always interested in the welfare of young people, which was one of the reasons why he formed the 4^th Basildon Boy’s Brigade, an association that lasted 54 years.

Albert proved to be a mainstay of Our Memories, very popular among the other participants and particularly so with the young students who were fascinated to find out more about how the early settlers managed with work, raising a family and how they passed their leisure time.  All very different to how they were brought up in Basildon in the 1990s as Albert found out when he visited De La Salle School to see how the students were being taught in the classroom.  This proved a revelation for Albert who recalled sitting on hard benches behind a small desk with an inkwell in it, and looking at a blackboard on the wall. There were no computers in his day, he remarked and you had to learn the times tables or you might get six of the best!

Like many other participants, Albert was surprised that the students took an interest in him and wanted to know more about his life in Basildon, to the extent that they became friends. Like Albert, many of those taking part lived alone and were concerned about young people hanging around street corners “up to no good” as they would say, but this project helped to narrow that intergenerational gap, which often leads to misunderstandings, because fear and suspicion often lead them to not talking to one another.  However, Albert’s time in the church and working with the Boy’s Brigade meant he knew how to communicate with the younger generation, but even he was surprised when the students and their teachers invited Albert and the others in the group, along to De La Salle for a Christmas Party.

At this formative get-together Albert became eighty years younger, his eyes lit up and he was the life and soul of the party reciting a poem he had learned as a boy, which consisted of many stanzas, delivered word perfect as far we know.  Soon after Albert became ill and was admitted to Basildon Hospital, following which he transferred to Brentwood Community Hospital to convalesce, which is where Lisa Hawker and Vin Harrop recorded his thoughts on film about his involvement in the project.  Although in obvious discomfort and worried about the future, he gave us a really wonderful and in depth interview that will eventually be archived for future generations to learn from.

Albert was always the enquirer, always the one eager to learn about what other people were doing, but in a non-inquisitive way and he made friends easily. It was those qualities that endeared him to many and made him a very special person to have taken part in our project.  We shall miss him greatly.

By Vin Harrop

Winning restaurant

After three months of the friendly rivalry between the five restaurateurs of the Our Basildon Our Food project, the winner was finally announced on Thursday 8^th April – Kemal Kaya of Cafe Market and Cafe City won the most votes from the Our Basildon team for his enthusiasm and long term aims to create healthier dishes for the Basildon public.

Kemal the chef at family-run restaurant Cafe Market was thrilled to have won after developing the dish with British Masterchef Mark Baumann. He said “My passion is cooking and working with Mark was a great opportunity as it enabled us to reach out to new customers. I have also been able to use a lot of the nutritional advice across our entire menu”.

The winning dish, a spicy quesadilla made with free-range chicken and lots of nutritious vegetables which counts towards your five a day, is still available at Cafe Market and Cafe City – so if you enjoy good food and service with a smile get down to one of the local restaurants today to try this winning meal for yourself-just ask for Chicken d’Lite!

We would like to thank all the other talented chefs and cooks who took part in the project: Chip and Fin, Poolside Cafe, Pitsea Leisure Centre Coffee Shop, Tasty Bakes & More, McDowell’s Pie and Mash, and Stacey’s Pie Shop. If you didn’t get round to sampling the delicious healthy options on the menus over the three month introductory period there’s still time, as all the recipes are downloadable from our website, with several still available and being extended in house.

Competition winners

Shelia and Len Jupe, who in November have been married for 55 years, were the lucky Basildon couple who won the meal for two at Mark Baumann’s, Baumanns Brasserie in Coggeshall. Regulars at McDowell’s Pie and Mash; the retired pair tried the Mac’s Ocean Pie in December instead of their usual pie and mash, and were pleasantly surprised. Shelia said “we usually go the McDowell’s after shopping in the town, and we thought we’d try something different. We both enjoyed the Ocean Pie and would definitely buy it again.” So, were they surprised to hear that they had won the competition? “Yes, we really didn’t expect to win. It’s something we don’t normally do and we’ve never been to Baumann’s Brasserie before, so we’re really looking forward to a great night out there”.  

To celebrate Cafe Market’s success Kemal provided a lavish buffet for Shelia, Len, Mark and the Our Basildon team which included some of his new healthier dishes - lasagne, chicken stew, jacket potato with mushrooms and onions and a loaded green salad. The restaurant was closed especially for the celebration and the warm and welcoming staff at Cafe Market, as well as the mouth-watering food, made the evening a huge triumph.

What’s the future for the Our Food project?

With such a great response from the people of Basildon, the Our Basildon team hope to build on the success of the Our Food project for the future.

British Masterchef, Mark Baumann said “it’s not about forcing people to eat healthy food, but providing them with a healthier option to choose and enjoy”.

So, would Mark want to do the project again? “I would be delighted to work with the Our Basildon team and restaurant owners again. It’s important to understand that this is the beginning and the healthy eating campaign in Basildon needs to keep going”.

Keep checking back for the new plans for ‘Our Food’ in Basildon; they look like they will be tasty ones!

Two innovative schemes aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of residents in Basildon have been hailed a success.

‘Our Basildon, Our Memories’ encouraged residents in sheltered housing and older people living alone from some of the town’s more deprived areas to take part in a Reminiscence Programme. A separate project, ‘Our Basildon, Our Food’, was aimed at persuading townspeople to eat more healthily.

The schemes were evaluated by researchers at the University of Essex, whose results were given to a packed audience at the George Hurd Centre on March 19^th. Among those attending were representatives of NHS South West Essex which funded the projects, Basildon MP Angela Smith, who is Government Minister for the Third Sector, and Basildon Council Chairman, Cllr Mo Larkin.

Our Basildon Project Director Lisa Hawker, from the Foundation for Essex Arts, said: “We have been really encouraged by the results of these projects. We have demonstrated there is a clear correlation between people having an active and healthy lifestyle, both physically and mentally, and the impact this has on their long-term health and ultimately NHS resources.”

The elderly residents from three sheltered housing units run by St George’s Community Housing Association and their peers took part in memory workshops facilitated by the Age Exchange charity over a four week period. Pupils aged 14 to 16 from three local schools – De La Salle, James Hornsby and Woodlands – were also involved in the scheme, giving them the opportunity to appreciate and respect the contribution by older people to society.

The workshops, along with questionnaires about mood and self esteem before and after the sessions, were evaluated, with the results showing clear improvements in the wellbeing of the elderly. There was significant evidence that reminiscence programmes were valuable in lessening the feelings of isolation, depression and fatigue.

Vin Harrop, Chairman of the Foundation for Essex Arts, commented: “With an ageing population and over a million people expected to have dementia by 2025, our Reminiscence Project has demonstrated it is vital that the older generation are given opportunities to improve their self-worth and self-esteem and feel less isolated socially.”

Running over a three month period, the Our Basildon, Our Food project was targeted at a wider audience, encouraging nine fast food eateries in the town to add healthier options to their menus. With 170 fast food establishments in Basildon and one in four adults classed as obese, the aim of the project was to alter people’s perceptions about healthy eating.

The chefs worked with British Masterchef Mark Baumann, from Baumanns Brasserie in Coggeshall, creating a new dish for each venue, supported by nutritionist Jane Itangata from NHS South West Essex.

Data from the University of Essex’s analysis of the project showed that that the data collected was incomplete but it appeared that three per cent of the food sold in the fast food restaurants was from the new healthier food options, which were sold at a discounted price subsidised by the restaurants and cafes.

All the eatery owners who took part in the project are also planning to take a nutrition qualification in ‘Healthy Eating’ organised by Basildon Council and many of the chefs have swapped their ingredients and cooking oils for more healthy alternatives.

More than 2,000 people also took part in taster days, trying samples of the food for free, with excellent feedback from the public, rating the dishes very highly.

Tam Fry, from the National Obesity Forum, said this should be seen as an encouraging start and that people’s eating habits would not be changed overnight. “I applaud this project. You can’t change the world in 24 hours but you have made a very good start in Basildon.”

The Our Basildon projects were developed following the launch of the Basildon Heritage Trail by the Foundation for Essex Arts, which has proven to be a catalyst for many diverse community initiatives. The Foundation is now seeking partners for new projects that support Basildon’s ongoing regeneration and growth or partners in other places going through change that may benefit from transferring the lessons learned from Our Memories and Our Food.

For more information on the Our Basildon projects and the Heritage Trail, please see www.ourbasildon.org.

Ends

Notes to journalists: For further information, please contact: Lisa Hawker: Our Basildon  Project Director 07889 278756

The 12km permanent Heritage Trail opens over the weekend of 25^th and 26^th April 2009 in Basildon’s 60^th anniversary year and aims to show residents and visitors alike that this 60 year old town has a long and vibrant history.

The ‘Our Basildon’, exploring past, present and future project- previously known as The Basildon Heritage Trail is a creative project for the whole community; encouraging young people, their families and individuals of all ages and backgrounds to look at the town through fresh eyes, to explore its past, celebrate its present and take an interest in helping to shape its future.

As heritage director Vin Harrop explains:

“When I embarked on what has now turned out to be a long and at times arduous route to create a heritage trail for Basildon, I never imagined that I would meet so many fellow travellers en route. For me, this has been a very pleasurable, at times humbling but always a rewarding experience, one that has taught me a lot about humanity and how we quite naturally come together when an idea jells and the community benefit is there for all to see.”

The Our Basildon project is led by the Foundation for Essex Arts, a fully independent community organisation that works with partners across a broad spectrum to develop this innovative enterprise.

It has been made possible with a £50,000 Heritage Lottery Grant and £18,250 from Veolia ES Cleanaway Pitsea Marshes Trust. Additional funding and support from our partners Essex County Council and Basildon District Council makes ours the first of the 32 ‘New Towns’ to have its own heritage trail.

The early Basildon community did not form naturally or organically as with most other towns. The early settlers in the 1950s and ‘60s moved into artificially designed ‘neighbourhoods’ where a lack of inward investment meant inadequate infrastructure and local amenities. This environment lead to a gradual loss of pride in the town that has meant its national image has suffered.

Basildon District Council, Councillor Malcolm Buckley thinks that the Trail will showcase the town in a positive light:

“It is great that Basildon is the first of the new towns to open a heritage trail. Although the town is relatively new, this shows that you do not need centuries of history to have a heritage. We are blessed with some good public art, open space and natural walks, and we are pleased that this trail will be opening and showing it off.”

This project means we can now begin to look at our roots, celebrate our unique heritage, and raise awareness on what Basildon has to offer to people both within and outside Essex.

The launch weekend is a momentous occasion for the Our Basildon project team; we are planning two full days of activity including a mini 2km town trail, live music, a dance battle and an opportunity to participate in creating an artwork* for the new sporting village on Saturday 25^th and a guided walk around the whole Trail on Sunday 26^th. See attached programme.

*The artwork by artist Lisa Hawker Ltd is commissioned by Basildon Renaissance Partnership, supported by Eastgate with the community element delivered as part of the Our Basildon launch.

Prior to the launch weekend, on Thursday 23^rd April we will be presenting the winner of the prize draw from our recent ‘Basildon Through The Lens’photography exhibition at Basildon library, with his prize. Hosted at New Campus Basildon (NCB), students will have the opportunity to converse with Michael Harris and invited guests who have all visited the recent exhibition, to exchange views on ‘what makes Basildon home to you’.

NCB students will also be around the town next week as part of our project evaluation asking the community their opinions for us on a range of subjects from heritage to health.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for our local NCB students to get involved in a community project and see how the knowledge and skills they are learning on their BTEC courses in business and sport and leisure can be put into practice.”

Katy Quinn - Director of Operations at New Campus Basildon

The Trail will remain the focus of the ‘Our Basildon’ project, being the creative catalyst for a whole host of other initiatives that are currently being developed.

We are particularly pleased to announce that NHS South West Essex is funding three new elements of the project, which will be delivered later in the year:

œ Outside exercise stations along the 12km heritage trail

œ An oral history project to preserve the memories of the first members of the Basildon community and to encourage discussion between different generations

œA healthy eating initiative involving restaurants and cafes on the trail.

Dr Neel Bhaduri, Public Health Commissioning Manager at NHS South West Essex, says:

“We are very pleased to be supporting this exciting project. The NHS funded elements will be launched later this year asthey are currently in the planning stages. An important part of our work at NHS South West Essex is encouraging all people in our communities to lead healthier lifestyles and be more physically active, and preventing the development ofhealth problems - these projects will help us achieve these objectives.”

Project manager Lisa Hawker expressed the importance of this partnership:

“We are very pleased that the NHS South West Essex sees the potential of the Our Basildon project in helping to holistically address a broad range of local health needs. The Trail is a unique concept in helping the town’s people to access their roots and explore individual identity. With the NHS funding we will be able to build in three extremely effective health & wellbeing projects and utilise the groundwork already prepared in helping us, as a completely independent organisation, to deliver multiple benefits for the Basildon community.”

The launch of the Heritage Trail has been three years in the pipeline to bring Vin Harrop’s controversial vision to life. From the initial work in five of Basildon’s primary schools with photographer Bob Fisher and author Frances Clamp to the last intense year of planning with Lisa Hawker as project manager the Our Basildon Heritage Trail is preparing for presentation to the public next weekend.