You may have heard of a little Facebook group, that has taken the town of Bury St Edmunds by storm.
“We Love Bury St Edmunds!” was born on 18th December 2015 with just 36 people.
Through friends adding friends, and no one else, the group has become, quite literally, an overnight sensation, swelling its numbers to 9,000 members in the first 30 days (now over 21,500).
Through photos and collective memories, members have reconnected with lost friends and loved ones who have been, so far up to 60 years apart.
Staying close to the rule of “Community Collective Memory” members have uploaded over 45,000 photos showing many different aspects of the town.
By using these photos carers looking after the elderly and those with dementia have been able to stimulate memories – not just in the elderly, but also many younger group members too.
The website is the natural progression for the group. The aim is to share all of the great memories and photos with the world. We are very proud to live in such a wonderful town and we know that Bury St Edmunds is a very special place for a lot of people not only here, but further afield too. Suffice to say we are proud to be able to showcase Bury St Edmunds, proving that it really is somewhere truly unique and special.
My WiSH Charity
“We Love Bury St Edmunds!” has also worked alongside the revamped West Suffolk Hospital charity My WiSH, to bring greater awareness to the group of their role, and in to inspire people in the group to support them.
With this in mind, we held 2 Christmas parties and raised money for them.
We were also entertained by Eurovision Royalty, The Brotherhood Of Man. The party was a great success, and we followed this up in 2017 with a second Night 2 Remember, and we showcased 5 amazing Acts.Oh What a Night 🙂
In 2018 we teamed up with another Eurovision Winner, Anne-Marie David, who helped us promote St Edmunds Day.
Anne-Marie and french film composer, Jean Musy also went on to create an oratorio, “Edmund, The Legend of a King” which has already been performed in France with great success and brought joy to all who attended.
More We Love Bury St Edmunds
There is a Facebook Group, from which the concept began. There is also a public Facebook Page, which we added later.
We can also be found on Twitter as @wlbse and on Instagram as @welovebse
Oh yes, we have a YouTube channel too
Website Relaunch
Our original website had become tired and a revamp was definitely in order. The website also has a new name, “eXplore Bury St Edmunds”, which not only promotes the town, but also ALL of the businesses here.
A fresh look, a new approach and a great future ahead.
Since We Love Bury St Edmunds began in December 2015, we have been making the newspapers on a regular basis
We didn’t plan it this way, but I can tell you we are not knocking it and have always been looked after very well by the media. Thank you!
DECEMBER 2015
I created a Facebook Group called “We Love Bury St Edmunds!” after 30 days there were 9,000 members.. so we celebrated in January…
JANUARY 2016
We photo-bombed the King
http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/they_love_bury_st_edmunds_1_4386397
http://www.burymercury.co.uk/news/they_love_bury_st_edmunds_1_4386397
APRIL 2016
We launched the “We Love Bury St Edmunds” badge
(12,200 members)… and T Shirts and Polo Shirts…
And in the same breath, we announced that there would be a website coming….
JULY 2016
Photos drawn from the Facebook Group were proudly displayed in the
West Suffolk Hospital Memory Walk
AUGUST 2016
We played with some ideas for a Human Colour Wheel…
Halfords Autocare on Eastgate street, became the first company to support discounts to people who wear the WLBSE badge.
This was followed by The Fox Inn on Eastgate Street, Mings in Abbeygate Street, The Abbeygate Cinema, Jessops and Adnams in Bury St Edmunds.
SEPTEMBER 2016
We announced we would be having a party at Christmas to raise money for My WiSH Charity for West Suffolk Hospital and North Court Care Home
OCTOBER 2016
10 months after Facebook Group launched, we launched the website….
7th October Gave a talk to the Saxon Gate Community Association – Annual General Meeting 2016 at The Southgate Community Centre
NOVEMBER 2016
We launched the 2017 WLBSE Calendar
https://www.logicdesign.co.uk/2016/11/logic-design-launches-love-bury-st-edmunds-website/
DECEMBER 2016
A Night 2 Remember – that you can’t afford to forget!
We have The Brotherhood of Man coming to perform at Ashlar House in Bury St Edmunds.
http://www.wsh.nhs.uk/Charity/Events/ANight2Remember.aspx
http://www.buryfreepress.co.uk/news/pop-band-take-roof-off-house-at-bury-st-edmunds-party-1-7741855
21st December 2016 – Bury Mercury – Review of A Night 2 Remember
22nd December 2016 – East Anglian Daily Times – Review of A Night 2 Remember
23rd December 2016 – Bury Free Press – Review of A Night 2 Remember
JANUARY 2017
We Photo Bombed The King Again…
http://www.buryfreepress.co.uk/news/we-love-bury-st-edmunds-members-recreate-memorable-photo-challenge-1-7778716
And a great article and front page of the East Anglian Daily Times.. Thanks to Andy Abbott
FEBRUARY 2017
We had a press release at The Apex on 26th February for The Limited Edition Decades Prints
MARCH 2017
MAY 2017
The St Edmund Of Suffolk Flag is seen around the World
JULY 2017
We supported the Cancer Research Relay For Life
http://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2017-07-08/hundreds-turn-out-for-24-hour-charity-relay-race/
AUGUST 2017
The Abseil for My WiSH Charity
The Photo Bomb
We did it again to launch St Edmunds Day celebrations for November
http://www.buryfreepress.co.uk/news/an-invitation-to-photobomb-the-king-1-8083789
http://www.buryfreepress.co.uk/news/st-edmund-to-be-celebrated-1-8103640
The Photo Bomb Event
A Night 2 Remember 2
OCTOBER 2017
Bury Free Press Business Awards Finalist
http://www.buryfreepress.co.uk/news/video-best-in-the-business-1-8196780
A Night 2 Remember 2 was launched
NOVEMBER 2017
Your Town Needs You Campaign and over 126 Businesses raise the Flag of St Edmund for the first time
http://www.buryfreepress.co.uk/news/happy-st-edmund-s-day-1-8253396
Paul Da Vinci in the EADT
http://www.eadt.co.uk/what-s-on/paul-da-vinci-sugar-baby-love-rubettes-1-5299872
Sudbury Mercury
You might not know the face but we bet you know the hit song…
http://www.sudburymercury.co.uk/what-s-on/paul-da-vinci-sugar-baby-love-rubettes-1-5299872
DECEMBER 2017
East Anglian Daily Times
Charity benefits from A Night 2 Remember 2
Bury Mercury
Charity benefits from Night 2 Remember 2
The Legend Of St Edmund
Andy Abbott – Anne-Marie David
OikoTimes
JANUARY 2018
Donation made to Gatehouse Dementia Hub
Donations to Gatehouse
FEBRUARY 2018
Donations to My WiSH Charity
MARCH 2018
We conveyed our deep concerns over the loss of Borough status
http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/life-of-st-edmund-musical-bury-st-edmunds-suffolk-1-5442697
APRIL 2018
And amidst Eurovision we still campaigned to the retain our Borough status
https://www.buryfreepress.co.uk/news/james-ready-to-take-on-lisbon-for-eurovision-1-8469725
MAY 2018
Eurovision and We Love Bury St Edmunds seemed to merge and overlap for me
https://www.westsuffolk.gov.uk/news/180508-se02.cfm
https://www.rtp.pt/play/p4226/e345125/telejornal
http://amulher.com/quem-e-o-homem-que-caiu-aos-pes-das-apresentadoras-da-eurovisao-revista-vip/
AUGUST 2018
And then of course, it was August, and 3 months to go until St Edmunds Day
Gathering by the statue of St Edmund by the Abbey West Front in Bury St Edmunds for the “We Love Bury St Edmunds”
http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/photo-bomb-session-bury-st-edmunds-st-edmund-s-day-suffolk-1-5653095
http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/st-edmund-s-day-photo-bomb-session-bury-st-edmunds-suffolk-1-5660487
SEPTEMBER 2018
A reunion thanks to We Love Bury St Edmunds!
Bury Free Press
https://www.buryfreepress.co.uk/news/texan-kaye-flies-in-for-reunion-55-years-on-9043726/
NOVEMBER 2018
Town getting ready to mark St Edmund’s Day
https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/st-edmund-s-day-november-20-2018-bury-st-edmunds-suffolk-1-5776908
JANUARY 2020
Save The Businesses of the Town with Free Parking for 2 Days a week
https://www.buryfreepress.co.uk/news/parking-changes-would-be-a-kick-in-the-teeth-9096782/
Creator James Sheen
Facebook Admins Greg Aspland James Sheen Lesley Norburn Michelle Richards Terry Chittock
Facebook Moderators
Virginnia Haslam
We Love Bury St Edmunds Logo Design Krysten Newby (Krys10)
Web Design James Sheen & Jeremy Parsons
Titles & Cataloguing Anna A Hradsky James Sheen
Written Content
Many Group Members of The Facebook Group
Proof Readers Ally Eatly Anna A Hradsky James Sheen Michelle Richards Rosie Cook
Photographers
Angela Lord Anna Frankum Andrew Nott Greg Aspland Jaclyn Clark Jeremy Chadwick John Hughes John Goffin John Goldsmith Josephine Sweetman Maureen Nicholls Nick Betson Paul Budgie Burgess Rupert Nye Sandy Jackson plus many more
Video Content Anna Frankum James Sheen Terry Chittock
Charities My WiSH Charity for West Suffolk Hospital, Gatehouse Hub, Cancer Research – Relay For Life
Gold Badge Holders 2016
1 Krysten Newby
2 Anna Frankum
3 Raymond Gordon
4 John Goldsmith
5 Sue Fendt
6 John Williams
7 Bernie Sexton
8 Paul “Budgie” Burgess
9 Patrick Chung
10 Brian Gobey
11 Carl Whitehouse
12 Ernie Broom
Gold Badge Holders 2017
1 Terry Chittock
2 Mike McAndrews (Walked 56/57 miles for Relay For Life)
3 Matt Marvell (to be presented)
4 Ken Goodwin (voted favourite postie)
5 Greg Aspland (outstanding achievement as Admin for WLBSE)
6 Jenny Smith (organises the biggest fundraising event in Bury St Edmunds the Girls Night Out for St Nicholas Hospice awarded LIVE on Facebook)
7 Ian Smith, Manager of The Coop on Mildenhall Road, the ONLY large supermarket to support the St Edmunds Day weekend
8 Richard Crouch – outstanding support for St Edmunds Day 2017
9 Nemonee Stone – outstanding contribution to Bury St Edmunds supporting many good causes
10 – Terry Clements, Mayor of St Edmundsbury – Outstanding contribution to We Love Bury St Edmunds! promoting and upholding the high moral values to our Facebook Group.
Antique Bronze Holders – The Super Elite
1 Anna Frankum (Grytics Award for An Outstanding Contribution)
2 Patrick Church (Lifetime Achievement Award)
3 Sheila Wormleighton (Lifetime Achievement)
4 Sue Griffin (Selfless Outstanding contribution to Nations overseas)