Another delve into the societies archives presented by our President, Malcolm Root.

Our society AGM will be followed by a presentation with Jim Davis and John Walmsley bringing us up to date with recent museum acquisitions, as well as other items of interest from our collections.

Ray Clark makes a return visit to tell us the story of The Weeley Pop Festival. Clacton-on-Sea Round table had been fundraising for many years for local charities and decided to hold a pop festival to attract a younger audience. They rented a local farmer’s field, built a makeshift stage and had permission for 5,000 festival goers to attend, but stopped counting when 150,000 turned up!

Stephen Bloomfield, Chair of Ingatestone & Fryerning Historical & Archaeological Society presents the story of this little known sea captain and engineer who closed the Dagenham breach, but also had a very eventful early life.

Our good friend Brian Day brings us details of his researches into this fascinating Halstead family.

Retired geologist, Ian Mercer, will take us on a trip into the geological past of Essex.

To be advised

To be advised

Archaeologist and historian, Rebecca Batley is coming to tell us the story of John de Bourchier, owner of Stanstead Hall, who was heavily involved in the political regime of Edward III, and his eldest son, Robert, who would become the first ever secular Chancellor of England, and later has the dubious distinction of being possibly the first Englishman to die of plague.

Our good friend and Vice Chairman, Ashley Cooper will present a talk about our local 18th Century artist.

Neil Wiffen from Essex Record Office will tell us all about the time when Britain was at risk of invasion by the French in the late 18th/early 19th centuries and Essex was right in the front line.