Early history of Billericay
Some of the earliest records of human occupation of Billericay are the burial mounds in Norsey Wood, showing evidence of occupation in the Bronze and Iron Ages. Evidence of a Roman town, subsequently abandoned, were found on the high ground at Billericay School, just south of the High Street during excavations in 1970–71. There may also have been a small cavalry fort at Blunts Wall Farm.
Pilgrim Fathers
A meeting of the Pilgrim Fathers, prior to their sailing in the Mayflower in 1620, is said to have taken place in Billericay high street; many local names and much historical imagery reflect this, such as Mayflower House, Mayflower Morris Men, Mayflower School and Mayflower Hall, and, of course, Billericay Mayflower Rotary Club. Sunnymede School’s houses were called Mayflower, Pilgrim, Chantry.
Christopher Martin, who was born in Great Burstead and later became a Billericay goods merchant and property owner, traveled on the Mayflower in 1620 as the official Ship’s Governor and purchasing agent, procuring ships supplies for the voyage.
The Mayflower ship set sail once the Pilgrim Fathers had all boarded and set to meet the Speedwell in the English Channel; the Speedwell was sailing from the Netherlands. Unfortunately the Speedwell developed leaks and so the ships headed for the Devon coast to repair her, but this proved impossible; the Mayflower eventually sailed from Plymouth without her.
Four people from Billericay were on board, including Christopher Martin, his wife Mary Prowe, along with Solomon Prowe – her son from her first marriage – and John Langemore – the Martins’ servant. All four pilgrims perished after their arrival at Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Christopher Martin died of fever on 8 January 1621. His wife perished in Plymouth in 1621. Both Christopher and Mary are buried in the Cole Hill Burial ground in Plymouth. The unfortunate fate of the would-be pioneers did not deter other inhabitants of Billericay from setting sail for the New World. The town of Billerica, Massachusetts, was established in 1655 by colonists from Billericay and named after their hometown in England.
Rotary Club of Billericay Mayflower
Billericay Mayflower Rotary Club was Chartered in 1990 and is the daughter club of the Rotary Club of Billericay which was Chartered in 1959. Billericay Mayflower was formed to attract members that preferred evening meetings rather than the lunch time meetings of it’s Mother Club. In turn Billericay Mayflower formed in 2019 Billericay Town Rotary Club that meets once a month.Billericay Mayflower Rotary runs several popular events in the town, most notable of which are Soapbox Derby, SummerFest and, of course, Billericay Christmas Market at the beginning of December.
Our President this year is Keith Dewis, who took over in July 2025. Please the Club Secretary, for more information about the club at secretary@mayflowerrotary.org
From the President
I am both delighted and honoured to become Mayflower president for the next Rotary year. I can’t believe it’s been 15 years since I last wore the chain. But so much has happened and I realise that all members of Mayflower have aged 15 years too!
Mayflower remains the most prolific in terms of activity and fundraising of any club in District 1240. I hope to continue that record in my year, while also acknowledging the need to delegate our more onerous tasks to outside agencies or other volunteers.
We remain committed to our three big money raising events, Billericay Christmas Market, Billericay Soapbox Derby, and Billericay SummerFest, but we also need some fun as well, whether that be Quiz Night, Music in the Garden, pétanque, and other amusements.
I am also looking forward to welcoming our friends from Mijas Rotary (Spain) in March 2027, as our twinning arrangements continue to grow. I hope that as many club members as possible will join the planned excursions, brunch, and supper parties so we can reciprocate the excellent hospitality that they gave us on our visit to them last February. We are already working on plans for their visit.
Finally, we are all rightly proud of being members of Mayflower, and I hope that, as your President, this year we can continue to grow in numbers, deliver the Rotary message of Service above Self, and have a lot of fun along the way.
Thank you very much.
Nick Sillitoe
President, Billericay Mayflower Rotary.
