Hullbridge Memories and History
In 1970's the centre, then known as the Hullbridge Day Centre, was opened by .... for the benefit of the village's over 50 years old. Its fore-runner was the Village Hall.
Ms Janet Stracey proposes and gets accepted that "The Hullbridge Day Centre" is renamed "Hullbridge Centre" in a hope that it can shed its image as a center only for old inactive people.
The Hullbridge Parish council provide the funding for an supply and fitting of an automatic door to make life easier for some of the villagers to get in and out of the building.
In November the Centre's fund raisers who have been hard at work raising funds obtains a grant from Rayleigh Lions and Essex County Council Community Inititiative Fund, as a result the frontage and car park behind the center are block paved. A further grant is obtained from Essex County Council Grassroots Fund and new fireproof arm chairs replace the old and non fireproof chairs.
At midday 16th December 2008, 39 villagers gathered in the Hullbridge Centre for the Annual Christmas Dinner. The dinner was expertly prepared in the Center's kitchen by the team of 11 cooks/helpers. (Mrs Birdie Sheppard, Mrs Christine Brunton, Mrs Joan Knox, Mrs Doreen Timmins.....) The dinner cost the villagers a terrific price of �6.00 per head and consisted of an aperitif, traditional Turkey dinner with Brussels Sprouts, Carrots, Stuffing, Yorkshire puddings, Roast potatoes and a wonderful gravy followed by Christmas Pudding and Custard or Viennetta ice cream and After Dinner Chocolates. Diners were served by Head Waiter Derek Hutchinson and his extremely festive wife Brenda. After dinner the tables were cleared from the floor and other villagers joined those already there for Sequence Dancing.
For photographs of the above please CLICK HERE
In April, Rochford Rayleigh Association of Voluntary Services (RRAVS), which the Centre is a member of, start to provide basic computer training via their LAPTTOP (Lifelong Access to PC's Through Training for Older People) to villagers over 50. The course is over 4 weeks and costs £12.00 per person. The program provides the individuals with access to a laptop and peripherals, a screen to display the course contents and a projector from which to show it. The tutors are Mr Alan Buxton, Mr Robert Grieve and Mr Gary Congram. The beginners course covers what a computer is, What is Windows, How to use a mouse, email, internet, Creating word documents and Filing. A more advanced course has also been run covering Phot editing, Spreadsheets,
In July, an Art class was formed with Gary Congram as the tutor, the group meets on Friday afternoon 13:00 till 15:00 hrs. Photos of the group and their work can be found in the Gallery. CLICK HERE
Acknowledgement is made to the following contributions that this history was compiled from:-