Rayleigh
Through the Looking Glass
About Us
In 1991 Ernie Lane, with the assistance of the late Edward Fitzgerald, wrote the first definitive history book of Rayleigh published as Rayleigh A Pictorial History. Funds raised from sales of this book were donated to Little Havens Hospice. The book sold out and was republished in 1993. So much interest was generated locally with new information and ephemera being donated and lent that Ernie published a second book in 1996 entitled Rayleigh, Its People and Places. Both of these books are now out of print and are hard to find in bookshops. We may be able to help should you be interested in obtaining a copy of either.
Interest continued to grow and Ernie was often asked to give talks to local groups and also to give public slide shows at the Mill Hall on Rayleigh’s rich and varied history. All donations he received were distributed to local charities. In view of the continued popularity of the talks Ernie was very much aware of the need to find a successor to take over from him and in 2000 Mike Davies agreed to work with Ernie and subsequently to take over the presentations and shows.
Mike has continued to present in the region of 40 shows each year and on the basis of ‘if it ain't broke don't fix it’ has continued to build on Ernie's sound foundation.
Mike was looking to update the projector and associated equipment and set up ‘Rayleigh Through the Looking Glass’ with a constitution and bank account to facilitate an application for funds to the National Lottery. This was successful in 2007 and new equipment purchased and our archive, which now amounts to over 4000 35mm slides have all been copied and stored on computer. We also hold a substantial amount of books, town guides, postcards and other ephemera. We now have an active group of helpers, not only to collate and research our town’s history but also to conserve and preserve our photographic archive and records, which is ongoing.
Our Committee presently comprises
Mike Davies, Chairman
Trevor Rand, Vice Chairman
Sharon Davies, Secretary
Nicki Shaw, Treasurer
Ernie Lane, President
Eunice Humphries, Vice President
Graham Hayes, Committee Member
Spencer Welsh, Committee Member
Jill Welsh, Committee Member
David Pymer, Committee Member
We are always looking to increase our knowledge of our Town’s history so if you have any photos or other items relating to Rayleigh please get in touch.
We are also happy to exhibit items from our archive to both individuals and groups. Please contact us to arrange.
Our Chairman and other members of our group are also involved with the following organisations
Rayleigh Town Museum
Friends of Historic Essex
The Local Historian
RNLI
The Rochford Hundred Historical Society
The Milestone Society
Essex Life Magazine
The Essex Journal
The British Titanic Society
Rayleigh Windmill Volunteers
Rayleigh Town Council Footpath Representative working with Essex County Council (P3)
Slide Shows 2018 |
Slide Shows 2019 |
Previous Updates |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
January 2018 - Shops |
February 2018 - RUDC |
March 2018 - High Street 4 |
April 2018 - London Hill 2 |
May 2018 - Bellingham Lane 2 |
June 2018 - DIY |
July 2018 - Clothing Shops |
August 2018 - Eastwood Road 3 |