Thurrock Council

Thurrock Local History Society was founded in 1952. The inaugural meeting was held in December 1952 at the old school in New Road, Grays. Miss Smith whose conception the Society was became its first Chairman. Aubrey Saunders a subsequent Chairman was the Secretary. In the Autumn of 1956 The Society produced its first journal, Panorama, edited by Glennis Goodyear and still continues to produce its journal annually today. The aims of the Society were and still are: To encourage interest and raise local awareness of Thurrock its history and its antiquities as well as to protect insofar as they are able the buildings and monuments in the locality. To collect photographs, drawings and description of such objects of interest. The Society began with approximately 10 members and now boasts 110 plus. It meets on the third Friday of the month from September to April at the Adult Community College in Richmond Road, Grays. (There is a pedestrian entrance from Bridge Road.) Members are addressed by a variety of speakers whose topics cover a wide spectrum . Group outings are arranged annually to places of historical interest.