The Burrows Lecture, was endowed at the University of Essex in 1966 as the result of a gift from Major J.H. Burrows who was proprietor and Managing Director of the Southend Standard group of newspapers and a Freeman of Southend.
In making his gift Major Burrows set out certain conditions regarding the lecture:
Over the years the endowment has, and continues to reflect the many-sided contribution to the public life of Essex made by members of the Burrows family, who over three generations, have been prominent in many different fields of activity – as soldier, military historian, barrister, archaeologist and farmer. Members of the family have served as Borough and County Alderman, as Mayor of Southend, Chairman of the Essex County Council, and as Deputy Lieutenant of the County. Since the beginning of the twentieth century, they have contributed to Essex journalism as owners, managers and editors of the Southend Standard group of newspapers and have always taken a special interest in the development of local education.
