Gallery
Brentwood Evening Townswomen’s Guild
The Townswomen’s Guilds movement started after women joined together to press for equal franchise. The suffragettes are famous for their militant way of getting attention to their cause, but the lesser known suffragists got their message across by reasoned argument and quieter legal means. In 1828, when women gained the vote, two suffragists, Eva Hubback and Margery Corbett Ashby started the Townswomen’s Guilds to help women use their new found freedom and to encourage equal rights for all women regardless of age, race or religion. Over the years, Townswomen have campaigned for many important issues in peaceful, legal ways and are still lobbying for causes such as domestic violence, grandparents’ rights and pensions for carers, and more recently were supporting British beef and sheep farmers and trying to stop Post Office closures. Apart from giving their combined weight to important national and international matters, the individual Guilds provide a social network for all local women. At 80 years old, the movement is still going strong and is as active as ever.
The local Brentwood Guild celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2007. It is a lively and very friendly society with monthly meetings providing a variety of speakers.
As well as the monthly meetings, there are smaller special interest groups covering gardening, craft, history, music and book discussion, which also meet monthly. There are outings to places of interest both locally and further afield—the gardeners’ group even have garden holidays.
Each year, the Guild supports a local charity and in March 2008, £561 was presented to Cemetery Gates, a gardening charity for adults with learning difficulties. This year the money raised will go to Brentwood Theatre. Most importantly, besides all the activities provided, the members always give friendship and support to each other, which ensures this caring Guild continues to thrive.
Picture: The History Group on a visit to Ingatestone Hall
Brentwood Evening Townswomen’s Guild meets monthly on the second Monday of the month, excluding January, at the Methodist Church Hall, Warley Hill, starting at 7.30pm.
Visitors are always made very welcome.
For further information contact
Music at St. Thomas'
Music plays an important part in the worship and life of the parish of St Thomas of Canterbury, Brentwood. The Director of Music and Organist, David Rooke, oversees a comprehensive music program with the support of an Assistant Director of Music, five assistant organists, two organ scholars and 95 singers and players.
There are four choirs - the Parish Choir, The Girls' Choir, the Becket Singers and the Becket Consort of Voices.
There is also the Orchestra of St Thomas', a close-harmony quartet  , an Organ Scholarship scheme and Lunchtime Concerts.
 The Parish Choir
Copyright 2009 JCM Studios, Brentwood |
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 Orchestra of St. Thomas'
Copyright 2009 JCM Studios, Brentwood |
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 The Becket SIngers
Copyright 2009 JCM Studios, Brentwood |
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 The Girls' Choir
Copyright 2009 JCM Studios, Brentwood |
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HUTTON & SHENFIELD CHORAL SOCIETY
This photgraph was taken at the Brentwood Centre in December 2008
at the Society's "Music for Christmas" concert
Brentwood Shakespeare Company
The following are pictures of the casts of The Merchant of Venice and Othello at dress rehearsals, taken by Lorraine Ely and David Rose
 Othello |
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 The Merchant of Venice |
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 The Merchant of Venice |
Brentwood's Orchestras for Young Musicians
Photographs of Brentwood's six groups for young people submitted by Ann Elderton.
 Brentwood Beginner Strings
Brentwood Junior String Orchestra
Phoenix Flames
Phoenix Flutes
Phoenix Youth Orchestra
Phoenix Wind Band |
