Sheila Bell - Society Secretary and Fundraiser
Sheila joined BBHS in 2021 and is a valuable member of the team, helping to look after the official administration of the society and an active member of fundraising section.
The local history and geneaology interest started at a young age (school days) and has not diminished.
Sheila moved to Basildon in 1963 like many New Towners relocating for work and a new life with their parents.
She was schooled locally and then onwards to a career in banking in the City of London.
Sheila progressed her career with more localised lecturing and training positions until retiring and pursuing her other interests Reading, Walking, Maps and Advanced Driving, and acting as a trustee for local groups and organisations.
Martin Gillham - Pitsea Local History
Martin is one of our Researcher Volunteers who specialises in Pitsea local history and buildings. Martin describes here in his own words his role and specialisms for Basildon Heritage.
"I came in originally in pursuit of Family History - but finding that Brentwood area in the Victorian era made me, in the mind-set of those times, a 'furriner' (someone from beyond the immediate horizon) I discovered an interest in Pitsea and the four parishes which it blurred into - Vange, Nevendon, North Benfleet and Bowers Gifford. The fellowship of the Heritage Centre has been generous with their time in reporting and explaining the evolution of the New Town area with their formidable knowledge gained from growing up in the area. My role essentially means that I can complement this by occasionally fortuitously answering or adding to queries, relating them to National events, laws or events which may be useful. I can also, in the absence 'of them that know' , record queries that might be passed on to the better informed members of the fellowship."
Ian Mathewson - Newspaper Scanning
Ian Mathewson is one of our researchers who has taken on the massive task of digitally scanning the Basildon Heritage archives of bound local newspapers. Ian is a retired electrical engineer, a resident of the Basildon Boroughs and a valuable volunteer..
He started the newspaper scanning project over one year ago and has made considerable inroads into the task and will shortly be publishing some of the work on the new website.
His work is very important for the detailed research needed in the early days of the New Town as the files will be searchable on line.
Sarah Smith - Resident Researcher and Webmistress
Sarah is a resident researcher at Basildon Heritage who specialises in Family History. She brings a new perspective to the Society with her knowledge and experience with Social Media.
Sarah is also our co-webmaster and manages the YouTube Channel and website shop.
A recent addition to our digital archives are Interview Podcasts which Sarah also manages.
Theresa Worland - Educational Resources
Theresa Worland heads up our Educational Resources - A new refreshed area for Basildon Heritage that will focus on supplying suitable material for local history curriculums in the Borough's schools.
Theresa is a retired school teacher with a wealth of knowledge relating to the needs of teachers and pupils in the Boroughs.
Basildon Heritage will be calling upon its archives to provide
tailored content to help educators deliver local history content in the classroom and optionally at Basildon Heritage on site at Wat Tyler Country Park.
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