From memories of Basildon's old Arts Centre to concerns for Wickford town centre, here are five letters published in the Echo this week: A BIG thank you to Basildon Council for the wonderful facilities they provide at Wat Tyler Country Park. After all the totally unacceptable , it was so, so nice to spend a very pleasant few hours at Wat Tyler Country Park, Pitsea last weekend. How very, very pleasant and reassuring to see many hundreds of people of all ages and backgrounds peacefully enjoying the simple pleasures of sunshine, gentle ball games, fresh air, children’s play facilities, ice cream , etc.
in such a friendly and relaxing atmosphere, plus a well maintained and clean venue (including clean toilets.) After all the unpleasantness of the last few weeks, it brought everything back into perspective – the majority of people are friendly and peaceful and it is only a tiny minority who aim to destroy the pleasures of the majority. Thank you again to Basildon Council – long may you support Wat Tyler Country Park for the enjoyment of so many of the community.
revived happy memories of acting with The Thalians drama group who were based there before the creation of the more modern Towngate Theatre. One treasured souvenir from those times is my script for Arthur Miller’s The Crucible –about the 17th century Salem witch trial in which I played Francis Nurse, the husband of one of the accused women, signed by the great American playwright who I had the privilege of meeti.