Best EVER? Don’t Take My Word For It.

By all accounts (not just ours!), Mayflower’s Billericay Christmas Market 2022 was “the best EVER”!! Yes, it was very heartening, after almost a year in the planning, to receive feedback from stallholders, shops, and visitors alike that BCM 22 earned that epithet. And especially rewarding for those who were up and about at 3.00 am making sure the road diversion signs were in place, ensuring all-comers would be able to stroll down a traffic-free High Street in safety.

As usual, our old friend, Town Crier Jim Shrubb led Santa’s Parade, which included Santa, very colourful circus acts, entertaining “characters”, as well as local dance groups, and the impressive spitfire from Soapbox Derby 2022!

Yes, it was quite chilly but we were grateful that it was dry, and that folk turned out in their thousands to enjoy what has become the traditional Billericay start to Christmas.

There was the usual Fun Fair and rides for the children, and the stalls were particularly impressive this year, ranging from charming wooden goods to alpaca toys, hats and gloves - with much in between. No-one needed to go hungry or thirsty – the range and quality of food and drink was top class!

Working Together

It was great to see Basildon and Billericay Town clubs represented, along with set-up and support from some of Billericay Club’s members including Roger Kettle, Patrick Rothon and Mike Sinclair.  Of course, a huge “thank you” to the “Big Eventers” who did a wonderful job supporting Mayflower members and the Welfare Team keeping everybody fed and “watered”, and to Brentwood Rotary who provided Santa’s Grotto – and Santa himself – Rotary working together!!

Very rewarding too were the number of charity stalls present. The Christmas Market gives them a grand opportunity to show themselves off to local people, raise awareness, and collect funds at the same time.

This is the culmination of very many hours of organisation and hard work by lots of people - another shout out to the ops team (their work didn’t finish until two days AFTER the event), and to Mayflower's sponsorship manager, who did a great job in securing our loyal and generous sponsors.

Huge Fundraiser For Our Good Causes

The community aspect of the Christmas Market is of course really important, but as a major Mayflower fundraiser, we are delighted to report that, although the final figures have not yet been calculated, we’re optimistic that our fundraising efforts will not disappoint the wonderful causes we support. Thank you, Billericay.  
By Yvonne Kyndt, Editor, Rotary Club of Billericay Mayflower Newsletter.